The person responsible for the production in which the child is taking part must apply for a Child Performance Licence. The application must be made to the council for the area where the child lives. The application must use the Child Performance Licence application form.
The applicant should complete Part 1, then send the entire form to the child's parent to check and complete Part 2. If the child needs to be absent from school to take part in the performance, the school should be given a copy of the application so they are aware of the requirements for the child. The parent should then sign Part 2 and send the entire form back to the applicant, along with the child's birth certificate/passport, school approval, and a passport-sized photograph of the child (head and shoulders).
The applicant should check the entire form and supporting documents, then sign the form at the bottom of Part 2 before submitting the application to the council via email to ceel@middlesbrough.gov.uk.
If approved, the licence is sent to the person whose name is on the front of the form (normally the producer). If the child is performing outside of Middlesbrough, a copy of the licence will also be sent to the council for the area where the performance is taking place.
Although current legislation for issuing Child Performance Licences requires 21 days' notice, we may grant a licence if the application is received at least ten working days prior to the performance, if all supporting documents are provided.
Supporting documents for the Child Performance Licence
In addition to the application form you need to send:
- a photograph of the child taken in the last six months
- a copy of the child’s birth certificate or passport
- a letter from the child's school (if the child will miss any school)
- a parental health declaration
- a copy of the performance organisation's child protection/safeguarding policy
