Child Performance Licensing

Many children enjoy performing, whether in plays, dancing shows, films or on television and parents enjoy supporting them. However, laws exist which are designed to protect children’s welfare and prevent them from being exploited (Children & Young Persons Act 1963 and the Children Performances Regulations 2014).

Licence Information

Legislation requires that all children, from birth until they cease to be compulsory school age, be licensed by the Local Authority in which they live to take part in a performance on stage or in a broadcast. A child remains subject to these regulations until the last Friday in June of the academic year in which they turn 16. The academic year runs from 1 September to 31 August inclusive.

The Licensing Authority (City of Doncaster Council) must be satisfied that:

• the child’s education will not suffer
• the child's health will not suffer
• the place of performance/rehearsal is satisfactory

The Local Authority can refuse a licence if any of the above expectations are not met. 

What type of performances need a licence?

Any performance:

• where a charge is made, whether for admission or otherwise
• on premises licensed to sell alcohol, for example in a hotel, a pub or theatre
• where there is absence from school
• recorded with a view to its use in a broadcast or film intended for public exhibition, for example a live stage performance recorded for a cinema screening, a feature film, a video or sound recording of a performance on a website

Any child used as a stand in (understudy) should be licensed in the same way as the other children in the performance. Licences may be issued for children:

• employed in paid modelling, photographic or catwalk work
• working in paid/professional sport
• in entertainment performing on stage or in television in activities such as films or commercials

What type of performances do not need a licence?

• if a child does not perform on more than 4 days in any period of 6 months (providing that there is no absence from school and they are not being paid)
• a performance that has been put on by the school
• a performance put on by a body of persons who has been approved by the Secretary of State or the Local Authority (providing there is no absence from school; no payment is being made to the child or any other person and the performance is taking place in Doncaster)
• any activity which the Local Authority does not consider to be a performance, for example children interviewed or filmed while taking part in activities not specifically arranged for the purpose, such as doing ordinary school lessons, playing in the park or at a youth club

Even where a licence is not required the Local Authority requires that a Notification of Performance and a Chaperone Form is fully completed by the person responsible for the performance along with a copy of their Child Protection Policy*. This should be submitted 21 days prior to the date of the first performance.

*See documents attached at the bottom of this page for our Safeguarding Policy Template. Please use this document as a template if you do not have your own Child Protection Policy to submit.

Why have a licence? 

A licence is issued for a child to take part in a performance. The licence states the conditions which must be observed to ensure the child’s safety and well-being. No child will be able to be absent from school for a performance without a licence. The law contains no provisions under which absence may be authorised for an unlicensed performance.

Do I need a licence for school performances?

Schools (but not dance schools) do not need to have licences, except where your child may be involved in commercial work outside normal school activities.

Can I take my own child to a modelling assignment?

Yes, as a parent/guardian you can be the person responsible for your child during the assignment. You can not chaperone any other child without a Chaperone Licence. You should stay with your child at all times, even during a photo ‘shoot’.

What are the maximum days permitted to perform?

A child may not take part in a performance or rehearsal on more than six days in any seven day period. However this is the maximum number of days. Local Authorities should consider whether it would be appropriate on an individual basis for a child to perform for this number of days.

What are the permitted hours for all performances?

The Children (Performances and Activities) (England) Regulations 2014 state the following regulations in relation to all performances:

The minimum overnight break for all children is 12 hours. However it is generally expected that most children should normally have an overnight break of no less that 14 hours duration. Consideration will be given to the time required for the child to travel to and from the place of performance and their home and whether to place any conditions on the licence to ensure the child has an adequate overnight break.

Regulation 5 allows the licensing authority to further restrict these permitted hours, break etc and place additional conditions on the licence if this would be in the best interests of the individual child.

What do I need in relation to medical requirements?

In order to ensure that a child is medically fit to take part in a performance, The City of Doncaster Council will require a completed Medical Declaration Form from parents with all Performance Licence Applications. We will request further information if we feel it is appropriate to do so.

Is there a time limit?

Yes, it is essential that a child obtains his/her licence before the performance takes place. Therefore, we ask for the application to be sent to us at least 21 days before the show or rehearsals are due to start.

What do I do about travel arrangements?

The licence holder should make sure that suitable arrangements are made for the child to be returned home, or to another agreed destination, after the last performance or rehearsal on each day. Children should not be allowed to to go home unsupervised especially for example, after an evening's performance. A child’s age should be taken into account when making these arrangements. Chaperones must be fully advised of all arrangements made for children in their care.

What happens in relation to performances abroad?

The law in relation to performances abroad is quite prescriptive. When a performance is to take place outside of Great Britain or Northern Ireland a licence is required by a justice of the peace sitting at a magistrates court within the area where the child resides. However most applications are made to the City of Westminster Court. Notice of the intended application must also be given to chief officer of the police for the area in which the child resided at least 7 days before the application is heard. The magistrate shall not grant the licence unless they are satisfied that notice has been properly given. Further information regarding licences can be obtained from the City of Westminster Court - Telephone Number 020 3126 3020. 

Can a licence be withdrawn?

Yes, if there are concerns about the welfare of the child. We work closely with producers, chaperones, parents and schools so that children can maximise their opportunities. A child’s welfare is of paramount importance.

Do visits to a place of performance happen?

As an authority, we have a duty to inspect places where children are performing to check that they are suitable and that the children are being looked after appropriately. This includes; ensuring the children taking part in the performance are, happy, fit and not overworked, inspections of facilities, chaperones supervision, tuition, health and safety and record keeping.  This may involve observation and discussions with the child, parent, chaperone and production team.

What are the rules about chaperones?

A child taking part in a performance must be supervised at all times during the performance by a registered chaperone that has been approved by the Licensing Authority, unless under the direct supervision of their parent, or person who has parental responsibility for the child. 

The licence holder will be the employer of the chaperone. More information can be found on the Information for Chaperones Page:

• Chaperones

APPLY NOW FOR A CHILD PERFORMANCE LICENCE: 

Please see below links for the Body of Persons Application (BOPA) and the Notification of Performance Form. 

Please Note: 

• You will require a passport style photograph of your child and a form of ID such as your child's passport or birth certificate
• You will need permission from your child's school that they agree to the child taking part
• BOPA's will not be processed until the medical declaration & chaperones spreadsheet is completed and returned with your application

**Please note: We will only accept a request for a performance licence on this application form, and require it submitted directly from the applicant / production company as they are responsible for the child’s well-being and safeguarding together with parent and the local authority. We will accept confirmation of the application direct from the company’s email address or the personal email of the applicant.

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

What happens next?

The application will be submitted to The City of Doncaster Council and if approved a licence will be issued. Once approved, the licence is sent to the person whose name is on the front of the form (normally the producer). A copy of the licence is also sent to the parent/guardian. If the child is performing outside of Doncaster, a copy of the licence will also be sent to the appropriate authority where the performance is taking place.

 More Information

• Attendance and pupil welfare

Contact Details

• ciee@doncaster.gov.uk

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