Child employment, chaperones and children in entertainment
Part-time work for school age children
Part-time work can improve your confidence, provide valuable experience and earn you some money.
What do I need to know?
- you must be at least 13 years old to work part-time
- any job must be done outside of school hours
- it must not affect your studies or mean you miss school
- you must have a work permit if you are still of school age (school age is right up until the last Friday in June of Year 11, even if you are already 16 or have a National Insurance Number)
Child employment laws
The are laws in place that apply to employing school aged children. These include:
- how old a child needs to be before they can be legally employed
- where a child can legally work
- what type of work is prohibited
- hours of employment
- work permits
- offences
- health and safety requirements
For more detailed information about child employment laws, see GOV.UK: Child employment and entertainment guidance
If you are interested in part-time work, your parent/guardian and employer must sign a child employment application form45.52KB.
Information for chaperones
If you wish to look after a young person taking part in a performance, and you are not the parent or guardian, you are legally required to get a licence. A chaperone should give the same kind of care which a good parent might be reasonably expected to give that child.
To apply for a licence, you must:
- Be 18 years old or over
- Complete an application form, see chaperone information and application pack95KB. This also includes information about the role, duties and responsibilities of a chaperone
- Have a valid DBS certificate. You will need to get clearance by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). This is an online process and free for volunteers. For more information about this process and access to the site please contact DBS@southtyneside.gov.uk Once you have completed this process you will be given a certificate
- Have an up to date safeguarding certificate. If you don't have one you will be required to register and complete the e-learning safeguarding module "An Introduction to Safeguarding". To register, please see South Tyneside. Safeguarding Children ea. After logging in, follow the instruction below to access the correct module:
- Open 'request learning'
- Open 'course request'
- Choose 'level 1 safeguarding children'
- Once you have completed your safeguarding module and have your DBS certificate, you need to email copies of them to SYP@southtyneside.gov.uk along with:
- your chaperone approval application
- a head and shoulder picture of yourself (this can be taken with a mobile device)
- Attend a training session on the role of a chaperone. For details about the next available session (dates are non-negotiable and maybe through Teams video link) please contact SYP@southtyneside.gov.uk
Children in entertainment
Many children enjoy performing:
- on stage
- in films
- on TV
- as models
- in sport
Parents are usually very supportive, but laws exist to protect the children's welfare and prevent them from being exploited.
The person responsible for the production in which the child is to take part, must apply to the Local Authority in which the child lives for a Child Performance Licence.
To apply for a child performance licence, see child performance and activities license application form46.81KB.
In some circumstances an organisation putting on a performance can apply for a Body of Persons Approval (BOPA) rather than applying for individual performance licences for the children taking part. Read more about Body of Persons Approval (BOPA).
List of children taking part in a performance19.0KB
Notification of a performance under body of person approval35.0KB
Application for a body of persons exemption36.35KB
To find out more, contact:
Child Employment Officer
Services For Young People
Level 0
Town Hall and Civic Offices
South Shields
NE33 2RL
Phone: 0191 424 7400
Email: CYPSYPReferrals@southtyneside.gov.uk
For further information, visit NNCEE