Children in entertainment: A guide for parents

There are regulations in place to protect your child whilst they take part in a performance.

The following information will explain the laws that help to prevent them from being exploited.

What a performance is

Performances usually cover:

• stage shows
• TV programmes
• commercials
• films
• modelling
• paid sport

All children under the age of 16, even babies, need a licence.

There are a few exceptions but if a child must miss school for rehearsals or performances, they must have a licence.

A child does not need a licence once they have past the official school-leaving age.

If your child is involved in entertainment and no one has mentioned a licence, get in touch with us and we can tell you whether one is needed.

If your child is involved in any show, the producer should contact us for an application form.

If your child is registered with an agent, you need to check that the agent or production company is applying for the licence.

The licence must be issued by the Council.

The producer must fill in the first part of the form and you must complete the second part.

Once completed, email the form to us at SYP@southtyneside.gov.uk.

You must also include:

• two photos
• a copy of your child's birth certificate
• Production Company's Safeguarding Policy and Risk Assessment

Where appropriate we will need written confirmation from your child's school that they have no objection to them being absent to take part in the performance.

We will send you a copy of the licence once it has been issued.

Your child needs to have their licence before the performance takes place.

We are allowed 21 days to process the application and we ask for it to be sent to us at least 10 full working days before the show starts.

We always try our best to issue a licence during this timescale, however if the application is late, we may not always be able to do so.

Schools (but not dance schools) are exempt from needing a licence for school performances.

There are strict rules about the number of days and hours that a child can take part in a performance.

Please contact us to check that your child is performing within the legally permitted times.

All children and young people must be looked after either by their own parent or by a Council approved chaperone whilst they are taking part in a performance. You cannot look after another child other than your own (even with parental permission) unless you are an approved chaperone.

You can apply online to become a chaperone.

We would urge you to check who is looking after your child and whether they have a valid chaperone approval.

Contact details

If you require further information, please contact the Attendance Monitoring Team on 0191 4247400.