Leaving Child overnight

[HuckfromScandal]

So - quick poll needing done to allay my thoughts!

What age is it ok to leave an eminently sensible child in the house overnight by themselves?
Child is happy to be left.
Grandfather is round the corner (child does not wish to stay there overnight but has been offered).
I am not too far away that I could not be back in a reasonable (15 mins) period of time.
Child cooks and fends for himself when I am out working and at hobbies etc.

What age would you be happy to leave your child at?

Probably 16. My mum used to leave me overnight from about 13 and I hated it.

I wouldn't leave an under 16 overnight.

15ish I think

15 fish?

My 12 year old would have been fine with it, especially with a relative around the corner.

My fear would have been explaining the absence of an adult if they'd had to call the fire service etc.

15 year olds would be reasonably expected to be fine overnight alone I'd have thought.

15 ish .

No fish involved

Watching with interest. I was left at 18 with 16 yr old sister and my parents went abroad for a few weeks. We were immature and I don't think I'd trust mine in the same way. Could have burnt house down. I had been left for periods since 11yrs onwards.

16. It's illegal for anyone younger than 16 to be left overnight.

https://www.gov.uk/law-on-leaving-your-child-home-alone

just That link spespecifically says that there is no age limit in law.

The NSPCC stuff is not worth the paper it's written on.

DS was 15 (nearly 16) when I first left him overnight. Very sensible, not a party animal. Recently I left DS (now 18) in charge of DD (14) while Iwas away foe several days. I wouldn't leave her alone overnight quite yet.

Maybe 16? My very capable responsible kid was ready earlier but somehow it didn't feel right to.

just how do you link to a site that says the exact opposite of what you have said in your post?

I would consider it from 14, depending on whether DS was happy, proximity of family/friends, how far I was going to be, and how sensible and trustworthy DS turns out to be at that age. I wouldn't insist on it.

We very occasionally leave our 14 yr old DS overnight. He's very sensible and loves being on his own.

16 for me
According to a friend who is involved in Child safeguarding in our local LEA there is NO set age to leave a child but if the child is deemed to be at risk you could be prosecuted whether they are 5 or 15

I was left for the odd weekend from 14. Grandparents round the corner if needed. Was left for 2 weeks when I was 16 (regular phone calls from dm and visits from gp), had a small 'gathering' which resulted in a kitchen bin fire 🤔

Really not sure what age I'd leave my DC.

just how do you link to a site that says the exact opposite of what you have said in your post

The link on the .gov website quotes the nspcc. If you go against the nspcc in court I know who'd win!

just That link spespecifically says that there is no age limit in law.

The NSPCC stuff is not worth the paper it's written on.

Yeah except that the gov website quotes the NSPCC. They quote on their website the words "children under 16 should not be left overnight" from the NSPCC. If they thought it was worthless they wouldn't have quoted it would they?

I stayed on my own over night from about 14. Wouldn't have liked it any younger but I knew how to cook a meal, be sensible and go to bed so it wasn't a big deal.

14/15 would be reasonable i think. The NSPCC say under 16s should not be left, probably because as a parent you still have responsibility for them up to age 16, but in practice there is no age under law relating to this.

My sister had her own flat and lived alone at 15, and so did a lot of her friends as we lived extremely rurally and she had to move to a town with a college. She was absolutely fine.

I think I would leave mine overnight at 14. I was left earlier than that but had gps as ndn.

Thank you all

DS is 15 - 16 in a few months.
He is happy to be left, in fact - in order to concentrate and get studying done - is actively encouraging it..... and no - he is not skiving - any facetime convo we have had - he is generally sitting at the dining table studying.

I am glad that I am not doing something that society in general wouldn't be happy about. I did weigh up the fact that his sister left home at an early 17 to life in another town to start college, and he is far more sensible even now!

Thanks for taking the time to share your views.

just
The link says there is no legal minimum age
The NSPCC guidelines are advisory not law. They are a charity not a statutory body.
The NSPCC wouldn't be prosecuting a parent - the CPS would. There would need to be evidence that the parent was negligent in order for them to be prosecuted. Given the lack of clarity in the law this would be difficult to evidence unless the child had a diagnosed difficulty such as learning needs or mental health difficulties.
You clearly haven't read or thought very much about this particular scenario.

My mum left me at 14, I was sensible and mature for my age though and there were loads of neighbours that I could've gone too if I needed anything, other family not too far away either. I loved that I was trusted and felt responsible also loved being on my own, I am and always have been a bit of an introverted hermit