Child Employment

Young people who have part time jobs often find it is a positive and rewarding experience. Many young people have part time jobs and The City of Doncaster Council want to make sure the jobs they do are safe and have no impact on their education or health and well-being.

Information about Child Employment

A young person is employed if they assist in any trade or occupation for profit, whether or not they receive pay or reward. This also applies if the parent is the employer. The council provides information to parents, young people and employers about child employment. Employers must ensure that young people are registered with the Local Authority where they are employed and have a permit.

Risk Assessments & Insurance

A risk assessment regarding the work to be undertaken by the young person must be carried out prior to them starting work. A copy should be provided to the parents about the risk and control measures involved. Employers should also be aware that they ensure that the appropriate employers liability insurance cover is in place. Employers are responsible for the Health & Safety and Welfare of the children they employ and must make sure they have appropriate clothing and footwear for the work they are doing. Parents, carers and young people can report any concerns to us.

Appropriate Working Hours

Child Employment Law covers both the minimum age a young person can be employed and the number of hours in which they can work.

A young person cannot work:

Before 7am
After 7pm
More than 12 hours per week during term time

A 13 or 14 year old:

Can work a maximum of 5 hours on a Saturday and 2 hours on a Sunday
Can work up to 25 hours per week during school holidays

A 15 or 16 year old:

Can work a maximum of 8 hours on a Saturday and 2 hours on a Sunday
Can work up to 35 hours per week during school holidays

All school age children must have a 1 hour break if they have worked continuously for 4 hours and must have at least 2 consecutive weeks off from employment that must be taken during school holidays.

Prohibitions

In order to ensure the Health and Safety of young people, The City of Doncaster Council's Bylaws provide information as to the types of employment that a young person is prohibited from undertaking. Any job that can cause harm or injury is not allowed. This includes but is not exhaustive to:

Selling cigarettes or medicines
Being involved in gambling
Selling/canvassing door to door
Using dangerous machinery
Working in a butchers, a slaughterhouse or delivering milk
Working in telephone sales
Working in a warehouse or factory
Working in a theatre, cinema or nightclub
Working in an amusement arcade or fairground
Working in a commercial kitchen
Collecting money
Working 3 metres or more above ground level

This list is not exhaustive and for further clarification on whether a young person can be employed in a particular type of work, please contact the Attendance and Pupil Welfare Service.

Child Employment Permits

Employers must ensure that young people are registered with the Local Authority where they are employed and have a permit. A child employment application online form must be completed for every school age child an employer has working for them. This includes young people that are volunteering and those in paid work. A form also needs to be completed by the child’s parent/guardian. The Local Authority can prosecute employers if they do not; register school age employees, employ school age people in a prohibited occupation and/or allow such young people to work outside the hours allowed by the law. Under no circumstances can a child work without a permit.

APPLY ONLINE NOW FOR A CHILD EMPLOYMENT PERMIT

Please see the below links for the Child Employment Permit Applications. PLEASE NOTE An application needs completing by both the employer and the child's parent/guardian. The application will be put on hold until both sections are completed.

Please complete and submit the relevant forms 2 weeks prior to the young person commencing work.

Child Employment Permit Application - Employer

Child Employment Permit Application - Parent

IMPORTANT - To complete the above Application Forms you will need a MyDoncaster Account. Please follow this link to create an account:

MyDoncaster Account - City of Doncaster Council