Children in employment and entertainment

Introduction

By law, all children who are of statutory school age require an employment licence if they are working part time. Or a child performance licence if they are involved in entertainment. The licence should be issued by us, the local authority.

You can find more information about the types of licences and how to apply below.

Child employment licences

All employers must apply for a child employment licence from us (the local authority) if they wish to employ any children or young people of statutory school age to work part-time. This is age 13 to statutory school leaving age, which is the last Friday in June for year 11. As the employer, it is your responsibility to discuss this application with the child’s parent or guardian before applying.

Only complete the form once the child has been offered employment. The parent or guardian must also agree to this application being made.

You can find regulations about employing children in the Somerset byelaws for the employment of children document.

Only use this online form to apply if a child is working part time. For performance licences, please see the child performance licence section below.

Apply now

If you have any questions about child employment Licences, please contact us at childrens@somerset.gov.uk

If you have any concerns that a child might be working illegally, please contact the Education Engagement Service at: EducationEngagement@somerset.gov.uk

Child performance licences

If a child is of statutory school age and is being paid or will be absent from school to take part in modelling, live or recorded performance or professional sport (including rehearsals), they will require a Child Performance Licence.

Children must be licensed by us (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 4 days in any 6-month period

Organisations planning to use children in performances, sport or modelling should apply for a licence at least 21 days before the first rehearsal or performance. Information for rehearsals taking place 2 weeks before the performance dates or during the performance dates are required. We do not need to be informed of rehearsals that take place during usual weekly classes.

To apply for a Child Performance Licence, the following documents should be emailed to CIE@somerset.gov.uk

A completed Application Form (found below)
A copy of the child’s birth certificate
Passport-style photograph of the child
A copy of your organisations valid Child Protection Policy (updated within the last 12 months)

Application Forms

Child Performance Licence application forms are divided into the following sections:

Part 1 – should be completed by the producer of the performance
Part 2 – should be completed by the parent of the child
Part 3 – should be completed by child’s head teacher if they will miss any school due to rehearsals or performances

Only fully completed application forms will be considered. Incomplete forms or submissions without required attachments will be returned and will need to be resubmitted.

Child Performance Licence Application Form

Standard Child Performance and Activities Licence Application Form (England)

PDF,

Body of Persons Approvals (BOPA)

If a child is not paid and will not be absent from school, a production company can apply for a Body of Persons Approval. Body of Persons Approvals are valid for 12 months and mean the production company does not have to apply for individual child performance licenses. This is as long as the performance licence criteria are not met.

A Body of Persons Approval can be issued for an organisation for a specific production, or for 12 months when a production involves multiple children. This might include Scout and Guide groups, dance schools, for example.

When granted, a Body of Persons Approval removes the need for an organisation to apply for individual child performance licences for that production or period of time. This is as long as the following conditions are met:

The children are not paid
The children do not miss any school as a result of the production

Applications for a Body of Persons Approval should be submitted to us as early as possible and not later than 21 days before the first rehearsal or performance. Information for rehearsals taking place 2 weeks before the performance dates or during the performance dates are required. We do not need to be informed of rehearsals that take place during usual weekly classes.

To apply for a new Body of Persons Approval, please email all the following documents to CIE@somerset.gov.uk

Body of Persons Application Form and Contract
A copy of your organisations Child Protection Policy (updated within the last 12 months)
Body of Persons Notification of Performance (if you have an upcoming performance and know all the details)

If your organisation has an existing, still valid Body of Persons Approval, you simply need to return an updated Body of Persons Notification of Performance form with details of your next production.

Only fully completed application forms will be considered. Incomplete forms or submissions without all the required attachments will be returned and will need to be resubmitted.

Body of Persons Approval Application Form

Exemption from Children's Licensing

PDF,

Four-Day Exemptions

If the child is not paid for their involvement, will not miss any school and will not have performed for more than four days in any six-month period then a Four Day Exemption can be applied for. This is instead of a Child Performance Licence.

A Four-Day Exemption can be applied for if all the following criteria are met:

The child will not be paid
The child will not be absent from school in relation to the production
The child will not have performed for more than four days in the last six months

If the performance will bring the total number of performing days over four in the last six months, a Child Performance Licence (hyperlink) is required.

A Four-Day Exemption should be applied for at least 21 days before the performance.

To apply, please complete the Exemption Form and return to CIE@somerset.gov.uk.

Children taking part in productions under a Four-Day Exemption still require a chaperone to ensure their welfare.

Only fully completed application forms will be considered. Incomplete forms will be returned and will need to be resubmitted.