School aged employment

For child employment purposes, a school-aged child is a child aged 13 to 16 who is still of compulsory school age.

A child is no longer legally considered to be of compulsory school age from the last Friday in June in the academic year in which they reach 16.

Children under the age of 13 cannot be employed, except where different licensing arrangements apply, such as certain performances.

a) What can a child be employed to do?

Children aged 13 to 16 can only undertake work that is suitable for their age and does not affect their health, safety, development or education.

Most wok undertaken by a school-aged child must be light work.

Light work is work which:

• Is not likely to be harmful to the child’s safety, health or development
• Does not affect the child’s attendance at school
• Does not affect the child’s participation in work experience or their ability to benefit from their education or work experience
• Children aged 14 and over may only undertake light work.
• Children aged 13 may only undertake light work in the types of employment specifically permitted by Hertfordshire’s employment bylaws.

b) Work a child cannot be employed to do

A child must not be employed:

• in a cinema, theatre, disco, dance hall or nightclub except in connection with a performance given entirely by children
• To sell or deliver alcohol, unless in sealed containers
• To deliver milk
• To deliver fuel oils
• In a commercial kitchen, except for washing up or waiting
• To collect or sort refuse
• In work more than 3 metres above the ground level, or, for internal work, more than 3 metres above floor level
• In work 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 unsuitable for children
• In telephone sales
• In a slaughterhouse or in work involving the killing of livestock, butchery or preparation of carcasses or meat for sale
• As an attendant or assistant in a fairground or amusement arcade, or in other premises used for public amusement involving automatic machines, games of chance or skill or similar devices
• In a gambling environment
• In the personal care of residents of a residential nursing home, unless under the supervision of a responsible adult.

Street trading is also subject to additional restrictions. Children under 14 cannot engage in street trading. A child aged 14 or over can only engage in street trading in limited circumstances and must have the appropriate street trader’s licence.

Light work is work that is not likely to be harmful to a child's health, safety, education, or development. Children of compulsory school age may only undertake work that is considered "light work" under child employment legislation

Light work a 13-year-old can be employed to do

In Hertfordshire, a 13-year-old can only be employed in light work in one or more of the following categories:

• Agricultural or horticultural work, under the supervision of their parent or guardian
• Delivery of newspapers, journals and other printed material, including collecting payment for these
• Shop work, including shelf stacking
• Work in hairdressing salons
• Office work
• Hand car washing in a private residential setting
• Work in a cafe or restaurant
• Work in riding stables
• Domestic work in hotels and other establishments offering accommodation.

The work must still meet the definition of light work and all other child employment requirements must be followed.

Hours of work for a child

Children are only permitted to work between the hours of 7am and 7pm.

They must not work during school hours.

The maximum hours a child can work depend on their age and whether they are working during term time or a school holiday.

a) During term time:

A child can work a maximum of 12 hours per week during term time.

On a school day:

• A child can work for a maximum of 2 hours
• This can be up to 1 hour before school and up to 1 hour after school, or up to 2 hours after school
• A child cannot work during school hours

On Saturday's:

• Children aged 13 and 14 can work for a maximum of 5 hours
• Children aged 15 and over can work for a maximum of 8 hours

On Sunday’s:

• A child can work for a maximum of 2 hours.

The weekly maximum of 12 hours must not be exceeded.

b) During school holidays:

Children aged 13 and 14:

• Maximum 5 hours per day
• Maximum 25 hours per week
• Maximum 2 hours on a Sunday

Children aged 15 and over:

• Maximum 8 hours per day
• Maximum 35 hours per week
• Maximum 2 hours on a Sunday

The maximum daily and weekly limits include hours worked on Saturdays and Sundays.

c) Weekend employment:

Children can work at weekends, subject to the maximum hours for their age and the overall weekly limit.

Saturday

During term time and school holidays:

• Children aged 13 and 14 can work for a maximum of 5 hours
• Children aged 15 and over can work a maximum of 8 hours.

Sunday

• Children are permitted to work for a maximum of 2 hours on a Sunday.
• The relevant term-time or school-holiday weekly maximum must also be followed.

d) Breaks:

• A child who works for more than 4 hours in a day must have a break of at least 1 hour by law.
• A child must also have at least 2 consecutive weeks without employment during each year, during a period when they are not required to attend school.

e) Working during school hours

• Children must not work during school hours.
• Employment must not interfere with the child’s education, school attendance or ability to benefit from their education.
• •  

Employers are responsible for ensuring that each child

Employers must:

• Obtain the required child employment work permit
• Employ the child only during the hours stated on the work permit application
• Employ the child only in the occupation, tasks and location stated on the work permit
• Carry out an appropriate risk assessment for the desired work
• Provide suitable clothing and footwear where the child is working outdoors
• Ensure the child is fit to undertake the work
• Comply with all applicable child employment legislation and Hertfordshire’s employment byelaws.

A child must be able to produce their work permit for inspection if required by an authorised officer of the council or a police officer.

• Work experience arranged as part of a child’s education is different from child employment.
• Work experience is governed by education legislation and is not subject to the same child employment rules on permitted occupations, hours and work permits.
• You do not need a child employment work permit for work experience arranged by the child’s school.
• Should the work experience lead to employment, the employer must apply for a work permit application prior to employment taking place, or as soon as the employment starts, in accordance with the council's requirements.

If you have a question or concern about a child who is working, contact the Hertfordshire County Council’s school aged employment team:

Email: SAE@hertfordshire.gov.uk

We will consider the information provided and investigate concerns where appropriate.

If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call:

• Police: 999
• NSPCC helpline: 0808 800 500

Apply for a permit to employ a child

Employers must apply for a child employment work permit for a school-aged child working in Hertfordshire, unless an exemption applies.

It is illegal to employ a child:

• Under the age of 13
• Outside the permitted hours
• Without the required work permit
• For more than the permitted number of hours
• Unless the work is permitted and, where applicable, is light work
• On a self-employed basis

Who needs a permit?

A permit is required for each child and each employer.

If a child has more than one job, a separate permit is required for each employer/job.

A permit is not required for:

• Babysitting
• Volunteering as part of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme
• Work experience arranged by the child’s school

If work experience subsequently becomes paid or unpaid employment, a work permit is required.

If a child lives in Hertfordshire but works in another local authority area, contact the local authority where the employment takes place to find out about its permit requirements.

If your child is Electively Home Education (EHE), please contact the School Age Employment team before applying so we can advise you about the requirements.

How to apply

Employers must complete the Apply for a child's work permit | Hertfordshire County Council form and send it to Hertfordshire County Council within 7 days of the child starting work.

The application must include the required information and be signed by the child’s parent or guardian.

If a child lives in Hertfordshire but works in another county, they will need to contact that authority for a permit.

Each permit is specific to the job and employer, if a child has more than one job, you need a permit for each.

Send completed applications to: SAE@hertfordshire.gov.uk

For more information, see:

• Child Employment in England is covered by the Children and Young Person Act 1933 , by local byelaws, which are drawn up by each Local Authority.
• Hertfordshire County Council: Apply for a child's work permit
• Gov.UK: Child employment: Minimum ages children can work
• HSE: Young people at work: The law

If a child lives in Hertfordshire but works in another county, they will need to contact that authority for a permit.

Each permit is specific to the job and employer, if a child has more than one job, you need a permit for each.

Child employment regulations

Find out more about child employment regulations.