Child performance licence - Licences and permissions

Children taking part in performances is governed by the Children and Young Persons Act 1963 (sections 37 and 39) and The Children (Performances and Activities) (England) Regulations 2014. This legislation applies to all children from birth until they leave school. A licence must be obtained from the local authority where the child lives.

Child Performance licences ensure that children's health, safety, and education are not adversely affected if they perform on stage, film or television, work as models, or take part in paid or professional sport.

Where a child has a licence, they must also be accompanied at all times by a licensed chaperone. A chaperone is an adult who is responsible for the child's well-being at all times while rehearsing or performing.

A child will need a child performance licence if:

• A charge is made, whether for admission or otherwise
• The performance takes place on licensed premises, for example in a hotel, a pub, or a theatre
• The performance is a live broadcast, for example a television or radio broadcast
• The performance is to be broadcast to the public or is being recorded for public viewing for children taking part in sport or modelling for which payment is being made

Child performance licence exemptions

A child does not need a licence if:

• The performance is under arrangements made by a school
• The Local Authority has granted a Body of Persons Approval (BOPA)

Exemptions apply where:

• No payment, in respect of the child taking part in the performance, is made and
• They do not need time off school to undertake the performance and
• They perform for only four days in any six-month period

If children are to perform abroad, you will need to apply to your local magistrate’s court for a licence. For further information contact your local magistrates court.

Child performance licence on GOV.UK

Apply for a licence

You will need to submit the following with your application:

• A copy of the child's birth certificate
• Two passport sized current photographs of the child
• A copy of the contract, draft contract or other documents (where they exist) containing details of the agreement regulating the child's participation in the performance or activity
• A letter from the family GP stating that the child or young person's health is adequate for them to take part (parental letter is required only for modelling assignments)
• Where the production will affect the young person's school attendance, a letter from their head teacher authorising the absence

Herefordshire Council is the data controller under data protection law and will use the information you provide in order to provide you with the licence you apply for. The legal basis for processing this data is your consent to do so. You can withdraw your consent at any time by notifying us, however, this will result in a licence not being provided or withdrawn. Our contact details to do so, or for any other queries, are Enforcement Officer, Plough Lane, Hereford HR4 0LE.

We will keep your data for 2 years after the licence ends. Your information will not be shared further, unless it is necessary to do so in cases such as preventing or detecting crime. Individuals have a number of rights under data protection law, including the right to request their information. You also have a right to make a complaint about our handling of your personal data to the Information Commissioner's Office.

• Email: childrenslicencing@herefordshire.gov.uk
• EHTS Call Centre: 01432 261761