12 year old sometimes sleeps in the caravan

[Docmccoy]

I am going through a divorce and my children stay with me every other weekend. For a four nights over different weekends I have let my eldest 11 year old sleep in my caravan, on his own in the garden. My (ex) wife has gone ballistic with this and threatened me with Police and Social Services. It is a countryside residence and he has his phone and a key. Most of the time the backdoor is unlocked. I have let him do this to give him some personal space and I do check several times in the night.
Am I doing anything illegal? I feel not as I am trying to encourage independence.
Thanka in advance

[des8]

Hi and welcome.

In the Uk there is no law stating the age at which a child can be left alone.
You have to use your judgement on the maturity of your child.

However the NSPCC advise that children under 12 are rarely mature enough to be left alone for a long period of time, and children under 16 shouldn't be left alone overnight.

I can understand his mother's concern, and you would probably get a hard time from social services
Don't forget that you could be prosecuted if the authorities think that leaving your son unsupervised might cause him to be in danger of suffering or injury