Child employment

Customer update on coronavirus

We will consider work permit applications on a case by case basis. We will consider the risk for the young person working and the risk for other members of their household.

To issue a permit we have to be satisfied that the employer has adequate safeguarding measures in place. This must include a risk assessment and may include PPE.

To apply for a work permit please download the application form below.

If you have any queries please email child.employment@bracknell-forest.gov.uk.

UK legislation states that children under the age of 13 are not permitted to be employed in any capacity by any person, including their parents or relatives.

See more information about child employment on GOV.UK.

Types of work

Table showing what types of work are and are not permitted for children aged 13 and above
Permitted types of work	Not permitted types of work
Cafes (not in the kitchen)	Alcohol - sell, deliver or serve
Car washing (by hand in a residential setting)	Arcade - attendant or assistant in a fairground or amusement arcade
Cleaning	Care - personal care of residents in a care home or similar
Coaching and tuition assistant	Chemicals - any work which involves the use of chemicals
Hairdresser salon work (no chemicals)	Cinema, night club, pub, bar off license, betting shop or similar
Hotel or accommodation - domestic work	Door to door - collect money or sell
Farming or agriculture (no machinery)	Factory work
Gardening or horticulture (no machinery)	Fuel - deliver
Office work	Height - no more than 3 metres above ground indoor or outdoor (for example climbing ladders)
Paper round	Kitchen - work in a commercial kitchen
Party host	Machinery - any work which involves the use of machinery
Riding stables work (light)	Meat - work in butchers shops or similar preparing meat
Restaurants (not in the kitchen)	Milk - deliver
Shop work	Refuse - collect and sort refuse
	Telephone sales

Hours of work for 13 and 14 year olds

Children who are 13 and 14 years old can work at the following times.

Weekdays - Monday to Friday

On school days they can work for no more than 2 hours in one day:

in the morning from 7am until half an hour before school starts
in the evening from the close of school until 7pm

During school holidays they can work for up to 5 hours in one day between 7am and 7pm.

Weekends

On Saturdays they can work for up to 5 hours between 7am and 7pm.

On Sundays they can work for up to 2 hours between 7am and 7pm.

Total hours allowed each week

During the school term no more that 12 hours per week.

During school holidays no more than 25 hours per week.

Hours of work for 15 and 16 year olds

Children who are 15 and 16 years old can work at the following times.

Weekdays - Monday to Friday

On school days they can work for no more than 2 hours in one day:

in the morning from 7am until half an hour before school starts
in the evening from the close of school until 7pm

During school holidays they can work for up to 5 hours in one day between 7am and 7pm.

Weekends

On Saturdays they can work for up to 8 hours between 7am and 7pm.

On Sundays they can work for up to 2 hours between 7am and 7pm.

Total hours allowed each week

During the school term no more that 12 hours per week.

During school holidays no more than 35 hours per week.

Compulsory school age

A young person reaches the end of compulsory school age on the last Friday in June in the school year during which they become 16 (Year 11).

You do not need a work permit after the school leaving date.

How to apply to employ young people

The employer must obtain a young persons employment card or work permit.

The restrictions and the need for a permit apply until a young person reaches the end of compulsory school age. A young person is of compulsory school age until the last Friday in June in the school year in which they reach the age of 16. This has not changed following the introduction of the participation age, which requires young people to remain in education, training or employment until they reach 18.

Permits are issued by the local authority in which the employment is to take place, which may differ from the authority in which the child lives.

Use our online form to apply for a permit. This should be done within the first week of employment.

Apply for a child work permit

You can find more information about child employment on the National Network for Children in Employment & Entertainment website.

Contact information

Display Name Child Employment Office

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