More than 850 schools across the UK have announced early closures due to extreme heat, with red and amber weather warnings in place in several regions. Temperatures could reach 40C in the south on Thursday, posing risks to children's safety. Some schools in the Liverpool City Region will close early, meaning parents may need to leave work to pick up their children or allow them to make their own way home.
Legal Age for Leaving Children Unsupervised
According to UK law, there is no specific age at which a child can legally be left unsupervised. However, parents may be committing an offence if leaving a child puts them at risk. Official guidance stresses that decisions should be based on a child’s maturity rather than their age alone.
The NSPCC advises that children under 12 are seldom ready to be left alone for long periods, and that anyone under 16 should not be left overnight. Babies and very young children should never be left alone. Parents can face prosecution if a child is left unattended in circumstances that could lead to harm.
NSPCC Guidance and Statistics
Helen Westerman, head of local campaigns at the NSPCC, said introducing a single legal age limit would not be practical, as children develop at different rates. She noted that many parents use situations like school closures to reassess whether their children are ready to stay home alone or spend time outdoors without supervision.
Ms Westerman highlighted that school holidays can place additional pressure on families, particularly when living costs remain high. She shared that the NSPCC has handled more than 21,000 calls related to unsupervised children over the last four years, with almost half coming during the summer holidays. She said: “As children get older, it’s natural for them to want more independence. Parents should build this up gradually and make sure their child feels safe.”
Can Parents Keep Children Off School During the Heatwave?
While some parents might think it better for children to stay home, there is no maximum temperature that forces schools to close. The government focuses on attendance. If schools are open, the advice is to send children as normal. The government website states: “During hot weather, we don’t normally advise schools to close. This is because school attendance is the best way for pupils to learn and reach their potential, and hot weather can usually be managed safely. School leaders should make sure they take any steps necessary to make sure children are safe and comfortable, and the heat-health alerts can guide this.”
