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Child employment

All school age children who work part-time must be registered with us.

It is the responsibility of the employer to register all school age children working for them, and to carry out a risk assessment.

Child employment permit application form (pdf, 1.3Mb) - to register, please complete and send it to the the Child Employment Officer

Child working hours

Children must not work before 7am or after 7pm.

Children are not allowed to work more than 12 hours a week during term time.

All school age children must have at least two consecutive weeks off during school holidays.

13 - 14 years

  • School days - 2 hours (Children can only work out of school hours. This may include 1 hour before school.)
  • Saturdays - 5 hours
  • Sundays - 2 hours
  • School Holidays - 5 hours (Up to a maximum of 25 hours a week)

15 - 16 years

  • School days - 2 hours (Children can only work out of school hours. This may include 1 hour before school.)
  • Saturdays - 8 hours
  • Sundays - 2 hours
  • School Holidays - 8 hours (Up to a maximum of 35 hours a week)

Child Employment Fortnight - Monday 26 March 2012 to Friday 6 April 2012

Warwickshire County Council, Child Employment Team, is taking part in a campaign to raise awareness of the regulations and health and safety in relation to employing of young persons, in particular as Newspaper Deliverers.

80% of young people who work, do so illegally and as a result will not be covered by their employer’s insurance.

All young people of compulsory school age require a work permit to work on a part–time basis and/or during the school holidays. This requirement does not end when the young person reaches their 16th birthday.

If a young person of compulsory school age is working without a permit it is a criminal offence and may be subject to legal action. Additionally the young person will not be covered by the employer’s liability insurance n the event of an injury.

Children have been injured and even killed whilst doing a newspaper round.

Examples of newsagents breaking the law.

Leaflets are available and also school visits could be arranged to raise awareness of child employment.