Employing children

COVID-19 information

During the current situation relating to Covid-19, applicants are still able to apply with a view to future employment.

Somerset County Council will not be issuing new permits as this would be supporting non-essential working.

The only exception for new permits will be for young people in Year 11 who are due to leave school on the last Friday in June and will be seeking employment.

Introduction

Children often want to earn extra money and many parents want their children to do this to help them become independent and self-disciplined. There are laws to protect children in the workplace.

In Somerset, employers are responsible for applying for a work permit for any child they employ. Read ‘The employers responsibility’ section for more information.

Please email any questions about work permits to childrens@somerset.gov.uk

If you have concerns about Illegal child employment or conditions where a child is employed, email somerseteducationsafeguarding@somerset.gov.uk

The employer's responsibility

An employer is responsible for discussing the application with the child’s parent or guardian, and for getting the licence.

The parent or guardian must agree before the employer can complete the application process.

Please only fill in the form when the child has been offered employment.

You can find regulations around ‘Employing children in Somerset’ in the downloads section of this page – Somerset bylaws for the employment of children.

Email any questions about work permits to childrens@somerset.gov.uk

Please note: In term-time or school holidays, no child is allowed work before 7am or after 7pm.

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Child performance licence

Children must be licensed by their local authority if they:

perform on stage
perform in television, film, commercial or modelling work
take part in paid or professional sport

and

they are paid, or
they need to be absent from school, or
they will perform for more than four days in any six-month period

Organisations which plan to use children in performance, sport or modelling should apply for a licence at least 21 days before the first rehearsal or performance. People who want to apply for a chaperone licence should apply 8 weeks in advance. The application forms are in the Downloads section of this page.

Part 1 of the form should be completed by the producer of the performance
Part 2 of the form should be completed by the parent of each child involved in the performance.
Part 3 of the form should be completed by the teacher if school time will be missed because of the performance (including rehearsals)

See our Chaperones page for more information.

Any enquiries about children in entertainment should be directed to SomersetEducationSafeguarding@somerset.gov.uk