Introduction
By law, all employers must apply for a child employment licence from the local authority if they wish to employ any children or young people of statutory school age to work part-time (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.
Please only complete the form once the child has been offered employment.
The parent or guardian must agree to this application being made.
You can find regulations around ‘Employing children in Somerset’ in the downloads section of this page – Somerset byelaws for the employment of children.
Please note – in term-time or school holidays, no child is allowed work before 7am or after 7pm.
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.
If a child is not paid and will not be absent from school a production company can apply for a Body of Persons Approval. BOP Approvals are valid for 12 months and mean the production company does not have to apply for individual child performance licenses, as long as the performance licence criteria are not met.
If the child is not paid for their involvement, will not miss any school and won’t have performed for more than four days in any six-month period then a Four Day Exemption can be applied for instead of a Child Performance License.
All performances involving children will require licenced chaperones to be present for all rehearsals and performances. Click the link for information about chaperones, or to apply for a Chaperone License.
Enquiries about Children in Entertainment should be directed to CIE@somerset.gov.uk.
Child employment licences
You can find regulations around ‘Employing children in Somerset’ in the downloads section of this page – Somerset byelaws for the employment of children.
Please note – in term-time or school holidays, no child is allowed work before 7am or after 7pm.
Only use this online form to apply if a child is working part time. For performance licences, please continue reading.
Apply for employment licences for children
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
Apply for a 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 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 (see details below)
- A copy of the child’s birth certificate
- Passport-style photograph of the child
- A copy of your organisation’s 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.
Body of Persons Approvals (BOPA)
Apply for a Body of Persons Approval (BOPA)
A BOPA 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, etc.
When granted, a BOPA removes the need for an organisation to apply for individual child performance licences for that production or period of time, 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 BOPA 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 BOPA, please email all the following documents to CIE@somerset.gov.uk:
- Body of Persons Application Form & Contract (hyperlink)
- A copy of your organisation’s 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) (hyperlink)
If your organisation has an existing, still valid BOPA, 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.
Four-Day Exemptions
Apply for a Four-Day Exemption
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.
