Is there a legal age at which children can be left unsupervised?
No. There is no legal stipulation in any Act – including the Children’s Protection Act 1993 – which states any age at which children can be left unsupervised. Cases reported to the Child Abuse Report Line will be considered from a variety of perspectives including the maturity of the young person; their responsibilities while unsupervised, (eg looking after younger siblings or cooking meals); the availability of an adult close by for help; the young person’s feelings about being left with younger siblings, as well as their confidence in following an emergency plan; the general safety of the home environment (open fires, pornographic / violent videos) etc. It is appropriate for educators and carers to seek information from parents about such situations and to share with parents any concerns they have about the impact of unsupervised time on the young person’s wellbeing. The response of parents to these concerns may be an important factor in influencing the assessments made by staff at t
