The law does not state at what age children can be left alone. However, parents can be prosecuted for willful neglect if they leave a child unsupervised "in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health" (Children and Young Persons Act 1993)
In addition, the law does not state an age when children are legally allowed to babysit. Where a babysitter is under the age of 16, parents remain legally responsible for ensuring their child comes to no harm.
For this reason, the NSPCC 
does not recommend asking anyone under 16 to look after a child and advises the following when choosing a babysitter:
does not recommend asking anyone under 16 to look after a child and advises the following when choosing a babysitter:- Follow your instincts, if in doubt don't use them
- Ask for at least two references and contact the referees yourself
- Choose a babysitter over 16 years old
- Listen to your child and talk to your child about any issue of babysitting that they are unhappy about
- If your child is unhappy about your use of a particular babysitter find someone else
- Only use registered childminders, a list of local registered childminders can be found online - Search - Childcare
Babysitters are not registered with Ofsted which means the Family Information Service do not hold lists for this type of childcare. However, we do hold lists of registered childminders, this includes childminders that may be willing to do some evening or weekend babysitting.
For details of registered childminders in your local area contact Torbay Family Information Service on 0800 328 5974 or visit the Childcarelink website.
Parents may also wish to find a sitter by asking a friend or a relative with children for a recommendation or by searching the web for babysitting agencies. If you use a babysitting agency you should be clear about how they vet their sitters, for example, ask whether they interview them, take up references and complete a CRB check (Criminal Records Bureau ).
).For details of Nanny and Babysitting services in Torbay and Devon, visit the Devon County Council website - DCC - Nanny & Babysitting Agencies.
Further advice on good practices when leaving children alone can be obtained by looking at the RoSPA or NSPCC websites (search for babysitting) or by ringing the NSPCC helpline on 0800 800 5000.
or NSPCC websites (search for babysitting) or by ringing the NSPCC helpline on 0800 800 5000.Related Websites
Contact Torbay Early Years
- Tel: 01803 207926
- Email: earlyyears@torbay.gov.uk
- Fax: 01803 207871
