There is no specific age at which it is legally permitted to leave a child at home alone. It would be difficult to make a legal ruling as children of the same age vary tremendously in their ability to assess risks and cope with responsibility.

The Child Accident Prevention Trust (www.capt.org.uk) advises that most children over the age of 10 can be safely left alone for short periods, if there isn’t an alternative.

It sounds as if the parents in question feel that they can trust their daughters if they are left at home for a short time on their own.

Before doing this, if I was the parent, I’d talk to my children about the possible dangers in the home and what to do if the doorbell or phone rings. They also need to know how to get help, make an emergency call and how to contact at least one parent quickly and easily. I’d also leave a snack, to avoid them using sharp knives.

I don’t think that children of this age should be asked to supervise younger children when in the house alone, though,even for a very short time.

Dose of sense

What’s the rationale behind the new pneumococcal vaccine for children? Are we in danger of vaccinating them against every little infection and denying them the chance of building up their immunity naturally?
Name and address supplied

The pneumococcal vaccine is being introduced from Monday. It offers protection against infection from Streptococcus pneumoniae that can have devastating consequences.

This causes bacterial meningitis, which is less common than other strains of meningitis but is the most severe and the most likely to kill or to leave a child with serious disability. It can also cause septicaemia (blood poisoning), pneumonia and ear infections.

In the US the vaccine was introduced successfully in 2001. Because children were being vaccinated against this infection, it created “herd immunity”, when lower levels of the infection circulate in the community generally. This helped elderly people, too, with fewer contracting pneumonia.

Rather than vaccinating children against every little infection, we are offering the most vulnerable — the very young and the elderly — protection against potentially serious illness. Although the number of child vaccines has increased there is no evidence that this causes them problems.

The new pneumococcal vaccine will be offered for babies at 2 and 4 months, with a booster at 13 months. There will be a short-lived “catch-up” campaign offering the vaccine for all children aged under 2.

The computer system that generates automatic letters to remind parents of their child’s next vaccination has not been working in some areas. Parents of under-2s who do not receive an invitation for this or other vaccinations should contact their GP. For more information, see the Department of Health’s guide to childhood vaccination: www.immunisation.nhs.uk/files/275774_Babies.pdf

It's time to talk

My daughter, aged 3½, speaks in gobbledegook, throwing in the odd intelligible word. I understand her, but others find it difficult. As other children of the same age sound coherent, what is normal?
S Robertson, Cheshire

The rate at which children develop speech and language skills in the pre-school years varies enormously. But what is usually expected by the time a child reaches 3½ years is to be able to take part in a conversation about a familiar event.

This might include answering questions starting with “what”, “where” or “who”. For instance, “Where is teddy?” or “What do you do with a spoon?” Children should also be capable of four to seven-word sentences, such as “Where is mummy going?” They should have a large, growing vocabulary and be able to use language for different purposes, to ask questions and to describe events.

Some pronunciation errors are common at this age, for example using “v” for “b”. But familiar listeners should find most sentences understandable.

It sounds as if your daughter is having problems. It would be good to ask your GP for a referral to a speech and language therapist. He or she can assess her communication skills and then advise you whether specific therapy might be helpful.

Jane Collins is the chief executive and honorary consultant paediatrician at Great Ormond Street Hospital

If you have any queries for Dr Jane e-mail drjane@thetimes.co.uk

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