Chaperone licences, work permits and theatre TV work
Chaperone licences
The local authority has responsibility to ensure the
welfare of all children in entertainment (including modelling and
paid sporting activities). The children must be supervised at all
times by either a licensed chaperone or their parent/legal
guardian.
If you have any queries or concerns please email the
CYPS
Child Employment Team.
What are the duties of a chaperone?
Essentially it is a child protection role in the broadest sense.
A chaperone has the care and control of the child with a view to
securing their health, comfort and moral welfare. No other duties
should be imposed on the chaperone by the production company.
I wish to become a licensed chaperone. What do I
do and how long will it take?
This depends on where you live, not where the performance is.
Please contact the North or South Education Welfare Service for an
application pack. This needs to be actioned quickly as the Criminal
Records Bureau form takes a few weeks to process and could delay
your application. The service endeavours to complete the process in
8–12 weeks. If you are from a bordering authority, please contact
your own local authority.
The child's grandparents/auntie/family member wants to
know if they need a chaperone licence if they are taking a
child in their family to a photo shoot, performance, and so on. Do
they?
Yes, they do need to be licensed. Only the child's parent, or
legal guardian can act as a chaperone unlicensed.
I am a qualified teacher, do I need to be
licensed?
Yes. You will be invited to attend a chaperone briefing when
information will be given about theatre work, hazards back stage,
child protection, and regulations.
I have had a police check – do I need to be Criminal
Records Bureau (CRB) checked?
Yes. Please phone the Education Welfare Service for
clarification.
Is there a fee to be licensed?
If you are becoming licensed as a volunteer (in other words no
payment is being received) there is a fee of £15.00 to pay.
However, if you are working in a professional capacity, a fee of
£65.00 will be incurred.
Can both men and women be chaperones, and is there a
limit on age?
Yes, they can be. There is no limit on age -
it is at the discretion of the local authority. However,
an applicant must have reached the age of 18 before applying for a
licence.
My chaperone licence will expire soon/has expired
- what should I do?
You should contact your education welfare office in good time.
They can then advise you of the process.
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Work permits
The local authority has responsibility to monitor all
children of statutory school age in employment throughout West
Sussex. The minimum age for employment is 13 years. All employers
must submit an application for a work permit within seven days
of commencement of employment.
If you have any queries or concerns please email the CYPS
child employment team.
You can download copies of the application form and guidance
notes under supporting documents below
Supporting documents
My son/daughter is going to work for the family
business during school holidays. Do they need a work
permit?
If business is carried out for profit, yes. Work permits are not
required for baby sitting, whether paid or unpaid. If helping at
home, no work permit is required, unless 'home' is a guesthouse,
for instance. However, working as a shop assistant
or office work, for instance, does require a
permit.
Can my child work in the kitchen, for example, in a
residential home or hotel?
Only if they are in a separate annex away from the cooking area
– they must not access the cooking area at any time. If in
doubt, please send a floor plan with your application
form.
My son has been offered a job. He is 16 and has got his
National Insurance number so I presume he doesn't need a work
permit. Is that right?
He still needs a permit if he is statutory school age and he
will need it until the last Friday in June, which is the school
leaving date. Once he has left school, even though he may still be
15, he doesn't need one, even if he is going on to sixth form or
college and will be over statutory school age.
I have had a copy of byelaws and note that work in a
commercial kitchen is prohibited. My daughter worked in a
hotel kitchen for her work experience, arranged by school. How does
this work?
There are different regulations that apply for work experience.
When issuing a work permit we must adhere to the byelaws.
Is there a minimum wage for school age children who
work?
The minimum wage comes in to force at the age of 18. Otherwise,
it is an arrangement agreed between the employer and family.
Must a young person have a work permit before starting
work?
No, however it is required that the employer sends an
application form within seven days of employing the child.
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Theatre licensing and TV work
The local authority has responsibility to monitor all
West Sussex children of statutory school age involved
in entertainment.
If you have any queries or concerns please email the
CYPS
child employment team.
You can download copies of the application form, health
declaration and guidance notes under supporting documents
below
Supporting documents
My child has been successful in an audition. The photo shoot
is next week. Can we license in time?
You should give 21 days' notice. If the time is less than this
you must refer to Horsham office.
We are an amateur company/dance school. Do we need
a licence for our panto/summer show?
You should always complete part 1 of the
licence. A child may perform without a licence for up to four
days, but only if:
- it is unpaid;
- no absence from school is required;
- the child has not performed for more than four days in the
previous six months.
However, you must still comply with the regulations. For further
advice, please contact the Education Welfare Service (EWS).
How many days can a child perform in any
week?
This depends on the type of work. It is a maximum five days
if broadcasting and recording, a film, or photo shoot. This
includes any rehearsals. If other than broadcasting and recording,
for example, a stage show, children can work six consecutive
days. Again, this includes rehearsals.
Are children allowed to work at night?
This would have to be agreed with the Education Welfare
Service (EWS), as conditions apply. Please contact them
directly.
My child needs a licence – we live in Worthing but my
child will be performing in Surrey. Who do we speak
to?
You need to apply to the Education Welfare Service (EWS) in the
area that you live. Your local Education Office will notify
Surrey Education Welfare Office.
My child has been offered a part in a production, what
do I need to do to arrange time out of school?
You should contact your child's school in the first instance as
it is the Headteacher who is responsible for authorising
absences.
My child's school will not approve absence for the show
although his attendance is satisfactory and he did well in his
SATS. Can he still perform?
You need to discuss this fully with the Headteacher. If you are
not happy with the result, please contact the Education Welfare
Service (EWS).
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