Child Employment

Employment rules apply to children of compulsory school age. Children are of compulsory school age up to the last Friday in June in the academic year of their 16th birthday, after which the child can apply for their national insurance number and may work full-time.

Age and time restrictions

The youngest age your child can work part time is 13 years old, with the exception of children who have obtained a performance licence from us for television, theatre, modelling or similar activities.

By law, there must be a rest break of one hour after working for four hours in a row.

Ages 13 and 14

• Term time, no more than 12 hours a week, but no more than two hours on any single school day when you may only work between 7am and 8am or 5pm and 7pm
• Saturdays and school holidays, no more than 25 hours a week between 7am and 7pm, but no more than five hours a day
• Sundays between 7am and 7pm, but no more than two hours
  

Ages 15 and 16

• Term time, no more than 12 hours a week, but no more than two hours on any school day when you may only work between 7am and 8am or 5pm and 7pm
• Saturdays and school holidays, no more than 35 hours a week between 7am and 7pm, but no more than eight hours a day
• Sundays between 7am and 7pm, but no more than two hours

Working during school hours

Children are not allowed to work during school hours unless licensed to work in entertainment. For full details, please download our guidance on performance licences (pdf 71kb) which also contains links to the forms which should be filled out by the parent and employer.

To view the documents on this page you will need Adobe Reader.

Working during the school holidays

By law, a child must have a break of two full consecutive weeks at some time during the school holidays.

Type and place of work restrictions

Children of compulsory school age are not allowed to

• Sell or serve alcohol, tobacco, cigarettes and medicines
• Sell on the street, including food vans or stalls
• Sell or canvassing door to door
• Use dangerous machinery or substances
• Do any job that may cause you harm or injury
• Do photographic modelling, unless licensed
  

Children of compulsory school age are not allowed to work in

• Billiard and gaming halls
• Amusement arcades
• Betting shops and racecourse or tracks
• Telephone sales
• Fairgrounds,
• Clubs, bars, kitchens, chip shops
• Factories, warehouses and building sites
• Theatres, cinemas and discos, unless licensed to perform

Employment permits

Employers must apply for an employment permit from us for school aged child. It is illegal for a child to work without one and also means they are not insured. Changes to employment terms require a new permit to be issued.

Chaperones

Children working as performers and models require a chaperone. They ensure that children

• Know what is expected of them
• Are happy and in good health
• Follow health and safety procedures
• Receive tutoring
• Are kept occupied during down time
• Have breaks and meals

Chaperones must have an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau background check and references, a chaperone licence and a good knowledge of chaperone regulations (pdf 66kb).

Information on the hours a child can work, what breaks they should take and what tuition they will require can be found in our table of guidance (pdf 16kb).

Contact

Child employment officer
Tel: 020 7525 2702
cecil.lovemore@southwark.gov.uk
Children’s services
John Smith House
144-152 Walworth Road
London
SE17 1JL