PARENTS thinking of leaving their children at home while they head out are being urged to read the latest NSPCC advice.

Managing work and childcare can present challenges for parents, so the organisation has offered its advice on what can and should be done.

There is no legal age a child can be left home alone as every child matures differently, but it is against the law to leave a child alone if it puts them at risk.

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Last year, the charity’s helpline made 566 referrals to agencies in the West Midlands following contacts about children being left alone without supervision of an adult, a 23 per cent increase from the previous year.

The NSPCC is preparing for another spike in calls this summer.

A spokesperson said: "We would advise a child who doesn’t feel comfortable shouldn’t be left alone.

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"Children under the age of 12 are rarely mature enough to cope in an emergency and should not be left at home alone for a long period of time.

"And children under the age of 16 should not be left alone overnight."

How to decide if your child is ready to stay at home alone

The NSPCC has created a quiz to help parents decide if their child is ready to be left alone at home.

NSPCC and SPAR store operator Blakemore Retail, based in the Midlands, have teamed up to help families keep their children safe, as part of the Home or Out Alone campaign.

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This campaign aims to help parents and carers decide if their child is ready to stay home, or go out alone unsupervised, by giving them access to information, guidance and a quiz; all of which can be found by visiting the ‘Home or Out Alone’ section of the NSPCC website at nspcc.org.uk/homealone.

The NSPCC Helpline is also available for any parent who needs help or support about any concern.

If you are worried about a child, even if you are unsure, contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk.