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

There 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 form44.39KB.

Please email the completed form to syp@southtyneside.gov.uk.

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
• Have a valid South Tyneside DBS certificate. You will need to get clearance by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). This is an online process and free for volunteers. Please email DBS@southtyneside.gov.uk and request a link to the online application. You will also need to request a date and time to take your ID documents into Hawthorne Building, Jarrow, NE32 3DP. Once you have completed this process, a certificate will be posted to your address.
• 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 "Safeguarding Everyone Level 1". To register, please see Safeguarding training: E-learning.
• If this is your first time using this link you will need to wait until the next working day for your registration to complete before you can access the course.
• Complete an application form, see chaperone information and application pack97.5KB. This also includes information about the role, duties and responsibilities of a chaperone
• Complete and sign the Chaperone code of conduct agreement form53.17KB.
• 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)
  • your completed chaperone code of conduct form
• 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

For more guidance on chaperone licences, see the Chaperone approval policy126.93KB.

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 form37.13KB.

Please email the completed application to SYP@southtyneside.gov.uk with the following:

• The child's birth certificate
• A head and shoulder picture of the child
• Your safeguarding policy

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

Contract of agreement33.86KB

Please email the completed application to SYP@southtyneside.gov.uk with your safeguarding policy.

To find out more, contact:

Child Employment Officer
Education and Standards
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