Chaperone Service
Children's Performance Regulations
What is a Chaperone?
A Chaperone is an adult approved by the
Local Authority (LA) to take charge of children at all
times during a performance except when the child is in the charge
of his/her parent or tutor.
The following legislation covers the role of Chaperones:
- Children & Young Persons Act 1963
- Children (Performance) Regulations 1968
- The Children (Performance) (Miscellaneous Amendments)
Regulations 1998
What does a Chaperone do?
A Chaperone is responsible for ensuring that the
performance licence is being complied with and the child is being
properly cared for. The Chaperone acts in loco parentis and
should exercise the care which a good parent might be reasonably
expected to give that child.
A Chaperone's first priority is always to the child. A Chaperone
is the key person to whom the child looks to for guidance,
protection, clarification and support.
One of a Chaperone's greatest strengths is her/his ability to
negotiate with the production company 'on site' and be able to say
'no' when what is being requested of the child is contrary or
detrimental to either the child's health, well being and/or
education. For example, requesting a child to stay at a place of
performance over and above the hours/times laid down on either the
child's licence or within the regulations, lack of education time,
and so forth.
The maximum number of children that chaperones are allowed to
have in their care at any one time is 12. However in
some circumstances, the LA may insist on a smaller ratio
of children per chaperone, or that more chaperones are
required in order to split the care of boys and girls and/or where
there is a wide difference in the ages of the children. Ratios are
at the discretion of the child's licensing local education
authority.
Production companies are required to log certain activities
during a performance i.e. arrival & departure times at the
place of the performance etc. In many cases this task is designated
to the chaperone, this is acceptable but the legal responsibility
for record keeping is still with the licence holder.
Becoming a Chaperone
You should apply to the Children Missing Education Service if
you wish to be approved to act as Chaperone.
In addition to an application form you will be expected to
attend an interview and a training session looking at the role of
Chaperones in child protection.
You will be required to have an Enhanced Disclosure from the
Criminal Records Bureau before Bath & North East Somerset
can approve you as a Chaperone. A small fee is requested to
cover the administration costs for the disclosure. Disclosure
checks through the Criminal Records Bureau can take 6 weeks or more
to come through. You need, therefore, to think ahead
when applying for Chaperone approval, especially if you are booked
to chaperone a forthcoming performance.
