Apply for a child performance licence

Use this page to find out about protections for children taking part in a show or event, and to apply for a licence to employ a performing child. You must normally apply for a separate licence for every child who performs. 

Theatrical agents (or other organisations who promote children for a performance role) often start the application process for a child performance licence. However, the producer of the performance is the one who will receive the issued licence, and must abide by the conditions within it.

WarningIt is illegal to employ children in professional performances without a licence. You may be fined, imprisoned, or both, if you make false statements to get a child performance licence, or fail to follow the conditions it contains.

If you're a parent of a child who is performing

You can't apply for the performance licence yourself, but you'll need to co-operate closely with the production company, to supply the information needed for the application. Check the Before you apply section below to ensure that you have all of the information and documents ready in advance.

You may also want to find out about child chaperoning for the duration of the performance, or consider acting as your child's chaperone

Select any topic below to read in more detail.

Why we have child performance licensing

Child performance licensing exists to protect the safety, physical health and mental wellbeing of children who work in entertainments, shows and commercial events.

View the national legislation: Children (Performance & Activities)(England) Regulations 2014 Statutory Instruments 2014 No. 3309 for full details of the legal protections for children working in performances, and the process for applying for a licence.

Who licences are for

Location 

We manage the granting of child performance licences through our Attendance and Welfare Support Service. Whether or not the performances are within our area, we are the local authority, and therefore responsible for licensing all children who normally live in B&NES.

For children who are performing in the UK, but do not normally live here, the local authority where the applicant (agent, producer, or production company representative) lives is responsible for issuing the performance licence.

Age

Licensing regulations apply to all children who are performing (or acting as a stand-in, or understudy), from birth until the end of their last year of compulsory education. Currently, the official school leaving date is the last Friday in June of the school year that the child turns 16.

Performances and circumstances that require a licence

You'll need to apply for a licence for commercial, ticketed or chargeable events, such as any performance:

• where audiences are charged (whether this charge is for admission or otherwise)
• which is broadcast (on TV, radio, via the internet, or other media)
• which is recorded, so that it may be broadcast or exhibited publicly at a later date

A licence is also necessary when the child is performing regularly or repeatedly (so we can monitor any potential effects on their education and wellbeing):

• whenever the child has performed for 4 days or more in the previous six months (whether or not a licence was required for that performance) 

Situations which do not need a licence

Some more informal or group shows, events, and recordings are exempt from the need for an individual child performance licence, such as: 

• plays, shows and events organised by schools
• performances (where many people may be performing together) which are covered by a type of group permission, called a Body of Persons Approval (BOPA)
• activities which may be recorded, but we do not consider to be a 'performance' (for example, children interviewed or filmed during an everyday activity, not specially arranged, such as school lessons, playing in a park or at a youth club) 

Legal restrictions, regulations and safeguarding recommendations

Terms and conditions of employment

Performance licence conditions govern aspects of the child's performance such as:

• duration and frequency of performances and breaks
• physical safety
• supervision and emotional care (parental or in loco parentis, via a chaperone)
• provision of age- and gender-appropriate facilities
• co-ordination with tutors or educational support
• advocacy and ensuring that contractual terms are honoured

View detailed statutory age-determined restrictions 

We will only issue a licence when we are satisfied that all relevant conditions are met, and that we have received all applicable information.

Safeguarding recommendations

Whether or not you need to apply for a child performance licence, we strongly recommend putting in place the follow safeguards for child performers.

• There should be at least one registered chaperone for every 12 children; the chaperone's role will be to supervise the children while not on stage.
• No child should share a dressing room with an adult, or with a child of the opposite sex.
• Each child must be accompanied to and from the place of performance by a responsible adult, preferably his or her parent.
• Children should not be allowed to perform when feeling unwell. The child themselves, (or their chaperone) has the right to state if they are well enough to perform.
• Appropriate First Aid facilities must be available at all times, in case of accident or injury.

If you are worried about the welfare of a child taking part in a performance

Please use one of the following services, depending on the severity and immediacy of concern:

• Call the Police on 999 if you believe the child is in immediate danger
• Use our dedicated service to report your concern to our Children's Services Team, if you believe the child is at risk of, or has already experienced, significant harm
• Contact us on awss@bathnes.gov.uk 

All concerns will be treated in confidence, taken seriously, and fully investigated.

Roles and responsibilities

There are clear expectations about what you should do, and what we will do as your local authority, to protect the children employed in your performance.

In addition to applying for a child performance licence, the production company is responsible for hiring and paying for the appropriate number of local authority approved chaperones for performing children. 

• View summary information on the responsibilities of chaperones, production companies and the Local Authority, in relation to children employed in performances

Learn more about chaperones

• Read about what approved chaperones do
• View our detailed on-the-job guidebook for chaperones

Before you apply

You will need to co-operate with the child's parent or guardian, their school and any other authorities to get all of the necessary documents which you'll need to submit with your application. We cannot start processing your application until we have all of the necessary paperwork.

Some of the following items may not be necessary for all applications. Please contact us to check.

• A copy of the child's birth certificate
• Two colour passport type photographs taken during the last 6 months
• A copy of the child's contract, or other documents, if the child is being paid
• A declaration (when necessary) stating that the part can only be taken by a child of about his/her age
• Medical certificate (or as required by us) stating that the child is well enough to perform
• A letter from the child's school giving their permission for the child to be absent from school (if required)

How to apply

WarningYou must apply for the child performance licence at least 21 days before the start of rehearsals, or we may refuse your application

By email

Complete the application form (MS Word) and email it to us at AWSS@bathnes.gov.uk

By post

Print and complete the application form (MS Word), and send it to us at:

• Attendance and Welfare Support Service
• Bath & North East Somerset Council
• Lewis House
• Manvers Street
• Bath BA1 1JG

If you need to get in touch

Email us at AWSS@bathnes.gov.uk or call us during business hours on 01225 394241

Other guidance for performance professionals and groups

The following national organisations offer members a wide range of benefits, information and networking opportunities.

• Visit the NNCEE (National Network for Child Employment and Entertainment) website for authoritative information and advice on the regulations and responsibilities involved in employing children.
• View the NODA (National Operatic and Dramatic Association) website to join a network of amateur theatre groups across the UK, with guidance on everything from finding sponsors to insurance.