A child can work part-time from the age of 13 if they have a work permit, unless they're working in any form of entertainment or modelling. Children working in these areas need a performance licence.
There are rules about the types of work and the hours children are allowed to work at different ages.
Hours children can work
During the school holidays, a child of 13 or 14 can work up to 25 hours a week and child of 15 can work up to 35 hours a week.
During the school term, they can work:
- on a school day after 7am, for one hour before school and for 2 hours after school, as long as they finish by 7pm
- on a non-school day for 5 hours (8 hours at age 15) between 7am and 7pm with a break of at least an hour after 4 hours
- on a Sunday for 2 hours between 7am and 10am to deliver newspapers.
A child can work full time (up to 40 hours a week) when they leave school, which they can do on the last Friday in June if they'll be 16 by the end of the summer holidays.
A child of 13 can do light work in the following areas:
- Café or restaurant waiting tables (not in a commercial kitchen)
- Hairdresser
- Hotel (domestic work)
- Office
- Riding stable
- Shop
- Car wash (by hand in a private residential setting)
- Farming or gardening
- Newspaper and leaflet delivery
A child of 14 or 15 can do light work as long as it's not on the list of work children aren't allowed to do.
A child can't work in the following areas:
- Cinema, theatre, disco, dance hall or night club
- Commercial kitchen
- Residential or nursing home in the personal care of residents
- Slaughter house, butcher's shop or any place where animals are killed or butchered or where meat is prepared for sale
- Fairground or amusement arcade or any place where people are entertained by automatic machines or games of chance or skill
- Door to door collecting money, selling or canvassing unless with an adult
- Selling or delivering alcohol unless in a sealed container
- Delivering milk or fuel oils
- Collecting or sorting rubbish
- Telephone sales
- More than three metres above ground or floor level
- Exposed to harmful physical, biological or chemical agents
- Exposed to adult material or situations which are unsuitable for children
Apply for a chaperone licence
All children taking part in a performance, such as theatre, sport or modelling, must be supervised by either their parent or guardian, or a licenced chaperone. A chaperone should give the same care a parent would give and is responsible for:
- making sure the child is safe
- making sure the child has enough breaks and meals
- taking action if the child is ill, upset or tired
- considering health and safety issues
You will need to include a passport style photograph with your application.
Send your application to: [email protected]
After we receive your application we'll get references from your referees, then invite you for an interview. We'll fill in a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) application, as we need to check the criminal record of anyone who spends time with children. The DBS check can take up to 8 weeks. Once you have your DBS certificate, we can issue a chaperone licence which is valid for 3 years. It's your responsibility to keep your chaperone licence up to date.
Apply for a child performance licence
A child may need a licence if they're under school leaving age and taking part in:
- plays, concerts, filming or other public performances that the audience pay to see, or that take place on licensed premises
- any sporting events or modelling assignments where the child is paid
A licence isn't needed if a performance is arranged by, and taking place at, a school.
The person in charge of the event should apply for a licence at least 21 days before the event. Email [email protected] or call 01752 307405.
If the child won't be with their parent or guardian, a school teacher or a home tutor, they must be supervised by a licenced chaperone.
Apply for a child work permit
A child can work part-time from the age of 13 if they have a work permit. Employers must make sure all children they employ have a permit.
You and the child's employer should fill in the work permit application form and send it to us.
We'll check with your child's school and issue a work permit if we think their health, welfare and education won't be damaged by the job. We'll send a copy of the permit to the employer if it's approved and we'll write to you to let you know.