Children in employment: work permit

If you have a young person aged between 13 and the statutory school leaving age (16) working for you, you must make sure they have valid work permits (employment cards).

The work permit must be issued in the local authority where the child works, regardless of where they live or go to school.

Licences cannot be transferred with the child if they change job or employer.

For more information on any aspect of child employment in west Berkshire, please email childemployment@westberks.gov.uk or call us on 01635 519797. Alternatively, visit the Local council rules for child employment permits on GOV.UK, or the visit the NNCEE website for advice and guidance.
 

When you cannot employ a child

You cannot employ a child:

• in a cinema, theatre, discotheque, dance hall or night club (unless licensed to perform there)
• to sell or deliver alcohol: except in sealed containers
• to deliver milk
• to deliver fuel oils
• in a commercial kitchen
• to collect or sort refuse
• in any work which is more than three metres above ground level or, in the case of internal work, more than three metres above floor level
• in employment involving harmful exposure to physical, biological, or chemical agents
• to collect money or to sell or canvass door to door, except under the supervision of an adult
• in work involving exposure to adult material or in situations which are for this reason otherwise unsuitable for children
• in telephone sales

Term time rules

During term time, children can only work a maximum of 12 hours a week. This includes:

• a maximum of 2 hours on school days and Sundays
• a maximum of 5 hours on Saturdays for 13 to 14-year-olds, or 8 hours for 15 to 16-year-olds

School holiday rules

During school holidays 13 to 14-year-olds are only allowed to work a maximum of 25 hours a week. This includes:

• a maximum of 5 hours on weekdays and Saturdays
• a maximum of 2 hours on Sunday

During school holidays 15 to 16-year-olds can only work a maximum of 35 hours a week. This includes:

• a maximum of 8 hours on weekdays and Saturdays
• a maximum of 2 hours on Sunday

A child employee:

• can only work between 7am and 7pm
• can work a total of two hours on a school day between 7am and 8.30am and after school until 7pm
• must not work more than 12 hours during any school week
• must have two weeks free from work each year

They must have a rest break of one hour after working four hours.

Applying for a work permit

The employer must complete the application. We do not accept work permit applications from parents/carers or children.

To apply, the employer is required to:

• conduct a risk assessment and show this to the child's parents - the employer must then submit the risk assessment with the application form
• provide the email addresses of both parents and the employer
• attach a photo of the child
• get the child's school to sign the application form
• ensure that you set a correct and strict work schedule and no more than two working hours on Sunday
• email a photocopy of the completed application to childemployment@westberks.gov.uk

Forms need to be completed by both the parents and the employer and returned before a permit can be issued.

Please apply at least 21 days before the work permit is required. 

As long as there is an application for a work permit in progress, the child can commence work.

Download the work permit application form [97KB] .