Child Performance Licence restrictions

Maximum number of days in a week on which a child may take part in performances and rehearsals

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A child may not take part in a performance or rehearsal on more than six consecutive days.

Maximum number and length of performances and rehearsals daily

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The table below sets out the maximum number of hours a child may be at a place of performance or rehearsal, may perform or rehearse in one day and may perform or rehearse continuously.

Age of child	Maximum no of hours in 1 day at place of performance or rehearsal	Maximum total no of hours of performance or rehearsal in 1 day	Maximum continuous no of hours of performance or rehearsal in 1 day
Birth until child reaches 5	5	2	0.5
5 until child reaches 9	8	3	2.5
9 to school leaving age	9.5	5	2.5

Earliest and latest hours at place of performance and place of rehearsal

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A child shall not be present at a place of performance or rehearsal before 7am, and on the day immediately following a day which a child has taken part in a performance or rehearsal.

Age of child	Earliest time	Latest time
Birth until child reaches 5	7am	10pm
5 to school leaving age	7am	11pm

Breaks on any day on which a child is performing or rehearsing

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When a child under the age of 5 is present at the place of the performance or rehearsal any breaks must be for a minimum duration of fifteen minute, except where a child is present for 4 or more hours, any such breaks must include at least 1 break of 45 minutes used for the purpose of a meal. Any break must be used for the purposes of meals, rest, education and recreation.

When a child is aged 5 or over is present at the place of performance or rehearsal for more than 4 but less than 8 consecutive hours, the child must have:

(a) one meal break of a minimum duration of 45 minutes and

(b) one other break of a minimum duration of 15 minutes

When a child is aged 5 or over is present at the place of performance or rehearsal for 8 or more consecutive hours, the child must have:

(a) one meal break of a minimum duration of 45 minutes and

(b) one other break of a minimum duration of 15 minutes and

(c) at least one other break of minimum duration of 15 minutes

A must have a break of a minimum duration of 1.5 hours between the child’s participation in consecutive performances where on the same day:

(a) the child performs the same part or takes the place of another performer in more than one instance of the same performance including rehearsal.

(b) the child is taking part in a performance under different licences granted.

(c) the child is taking part in a performance for which a licence has been obtained and in a performance for which a licence is not required.

Where the earlier performance or rehearsal is less than 1 hour in duration, and

(a) the following performance or rehearsal takes place at the same place of performance; or rehearsal;

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(b) there is no time required for travel between the earlier and consecutive performance or rehearsal.

The break between those performances (or rehearsals) may be reduced to minimum of 45 minutes.

Minimum breaks overnight

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A child must have an overnight break of a minimum duration of 12 hours between attendance at a place of performance or rehearsal.

The following sheet is a summary of restrictions in relation to all performances.

Topic	Age 0 to 4	Age 5 to 8	Age 9 and over
Maximum number of hours at place of performance or rehearsal (Reg 22)	5 hours	8 hours	9.5 hours
Earliest and latest permitted times at place of performance or rehearsal (Reg 21)	7am to 10pm	7am to 11pm	7am to 11pm
Maximum period of continuous performance or rehearsal (Reg 22)	30 minutes	2.5 hours	2.5 hours
Maximum total hours of performance or rehearsal (Reg 22)	2 hours	3 hours	5 hours
Minimum intervals for meals and rest (Reg 23)	Any breaks must be for a minimum of 15 minutes. If at the place of performances or rehearsal for more than 4 hours, breaks must include at least one 45 minute meal break	If present at the place of performance or rehearsal for more than 4 hours but less than 8 hours, they must have 1 meal break of 45 minutes and at least 1 break of 15 minutes. If present at the place of performance or rehearsal for 8 hours or more, they must have the breaks stated above plus another break of 15 minutes.	If present at the place of performance or rehearsal for more than 4 hours but less than 8 hours, they must have 1 meal break of 45 minutes and at least 1 break of 15 minutes. If present at the place of performance or rehearsal for 8 hours or more, they must have the breaks stated above plus another break of 15 minutes.
Education (reg 13)	N/A	3 hours per day (maximum of 5 hours per day). 15 hours per week, taught only on school days. Minimum of 6 hours in a week if aggregating over 4 week or less.	3 hours per day (maximum of 5 hours per day 15 hours per week, taught only on school days. Minimum of 6 hours in a week if aggregating over 4 week period or less.
Minimum break between performances (Reg 23)	1 hour 30 minutes	1 hour 30 minutes	1 hour 30 minutes
Maximum consecutive days to take part in performance or rehearsal (Reg 26)	6 days	6 days	6 days