Performance licences

The need for a performance licence for your child
If a child who is not over compulsory school age is due to participate in:

TV or filming, or a theatrical performance (including rehearsals), or
a sporting activity or modelling for which payment is made, a performance licence is required unless the performance is exempt from needing a licence.

A licence is not required if no payment is made in respect of the performance (apart from reimbursing expenses) and one of the following circumstances applies:

the child has not taken part in performances in the previous six months on more than three days, or
the performance is arranged by a school or by a body approved for the purpose by the Secretary of State or local education authority (eg scout gang shows).

(Note: Even if a licence is not required, there are still restrictions on the number hours a child may participate in the performance, and it should not involve absence from school.)

As a general rule, if the activity is paid, a performance licence will be required, even if the child will not be absent from school.

Obtaining a performance licence for your child
The following documentation is required:

a completed application form

If your child is due to participate in TV or filming, theatre, sporting activity or modelling, a performance licence is sometimes required. A notice period of at least 21 days is required in order to obtain a licence.

Criteria for requiring a licence
As a general rule, if the work is paid, a performance licence will be required, regardless of whether the child will need to be absent from school for the performance.

No licence is required in the following circumstances:

no payment made to child and they have not taken part in performances in the previous six months on more than three days
no payment made to child and performance arranged by school
no payment made to child and performance exempted by Secretary of State eg scout gang shows

Documentation required

two passport sized photographs taken within the previous six months
medical certification – obtained from child's GP or School Health Service (certificate is valid for six months) to be provided by parent in the case of sporting and still modelling
birth certificate or satisfactory evidence of child's age
copy of contract/schedule
letter of permission from school if time off is required for either rehearsals or performance

Chaperone licences
Chaperone licences are also dealt with by the same section but before applying you must have a current Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) clearance. Application form (word)

Responsibilities of a chaperone:

a chaperone's first priority is always to the child
a chaperone is the key person to whom the child looks to for guidance, protection, clarification and support
one of a chaperone's greatest strengths is their ability to negotiate with the production company 'on site' and be able to say no when what is being requested of the child is contrary or detrimental to either the child's health, well being and/or education. For example, requesting a child to stay at a place of performance over and above the hours/times laid down in either the child's licence or the regulations, lack of education time
at no time should a child perform if unwell
chaperones should keep a note of important contacts, for example, their Licensing Authority, the child's licensing authority, the local authority in whose area the child is performing, the child's Agent and the child's parent/legal guardian
the maximum number of children chaperones are allowed to have in their care at any one time is 12. But, in a lot of instances this will be too many (diverse mixture of ages requiring more concentrated supervision and so forth). We recommend eight children to be the maximum in many cases
the child should not perform if a licence has not been granted, unless they fall within the exemption period.
chaperone's should not presume that a child is licensed. Always ask to see a child's licence upon arrival at a place of performance.
if the production company cannot prove that a child is licensed, chaperones should contact Ealing Council, otherwise a contravention may have occurred
production companies are required to log certain activities during a performance ie arrival and departure times at the place of the performance etc

Licences at short notice
If a licence is requested within the 21 days notice, the issuing officer, after prior agreement with the applicant, may agree to process the application providing all relevant documents are correctly completed, legible and received by the issuing authority at least five working days prior to the performance date. Fax copies will not be accepted. Please note, Ealing local authority does not issue six-month open licences.

Download an application form (pdf)

For more information contact Margaret Charles on (020) 8825 8791.