Words from Barry O’Shea

Barrie O’Shea is the Head of Duncombe Primary School in Islington and Schools representative on Islington’s Children’s Safeguarding Board, he asked MCN to work with a group of Duncombe’s pupils to explore “Home Alone” issues. Here is what he had to say:

“A couple of years ago the board asked me if I would look into children being left unattended. We started with our school at circle time and we took the message to the school councils.”

Barry also told us that they have a parents’ group which meets at the school on Friday mornings and the matter of leaving children home alone was discussed there. Barry said he had wanted to explore this issue in a meaningful way so that it would generate discussion. Laverne Hunt, founder of MCN approached Barry about making a film – many months later when they had attracted the funding the project was given the go ahead.

Barry said that the aim was to “Deliver a message to the three most important groups. We’re absolutely clear that some parents have a challenging time looking after children. They work and have little time for themselves.”

“Over 56 countries are represented in the school, many of those parents are alone and we’ve tried to sit down with parents and show where they can then help one another.”

Barry said that in North London such a mutually supportive system can be organized. Because of the diverse nature of London, and the school itself, many of our parents arrive at the school with no such support in place.

“We are encouraging them to work together,” he continued. “We are hopeful that we can deliver the message to stimulate conversation in our local schools.”

Barry also spoke of children who do worry about being left home alone and are aware of the problematic nature of this: “They will protect their parents, they are really quick,” he said.

Barry did not give an age at which he thinks it is appropriate for a child to be left home alone: “It doesn’t matter how old the child is that is looking after the child,” he explained. “It’s how responsible they are. I know 11 year-olds who will look after their brother in a sensible and mature way.”

He also pointed out that one must also take into consideration, “how sensible the children are that are being looked after.”

On completion of the project Barry realized that each family’s circumstances are different, and should be measured as such.

“We haven’t arrived at a figure or an age, we couldn’t do it because it wouldn’t work. There has to be an understanding that parents sometimes need to get out. More importantly, they have the reassurance that they can come to us and we can give some support to them.”

Barry talked about his childhood. When his mum went out to work she left the door open for the kids – ‘and the burglar’, he joked. At the Friday parent sessions, one parent said that she didn’t leave her son alone until he was 16 – and that her 15 year-old is more responsible than the 21 year-old. One lady admitted to leaving a three year-old alone for a few minutes. A mother who lives with her extended family said she can’t leave the children alone, because they fight!

“Generally families should help one another out,” said Barry. “The government are saying that should be a special check.” He talked about a Somali mother who helps out many families, but under the government ruling would need to be registered to make sure that she is safe. All this, yet the government want the age parents return to work back to work to be lowered from when their children are aged 10 to seven.

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