Standard child performance and activities licence

If you're a running an event where a child will be performing, you must apply for a child performance licence.

Submit your application

Any person who fails to observe any condition subject to which a licence is granted or knowingly or recklessly makes any false statement in or in connection with an application for a licence is liable to a fine not exceeding £1000 (level 3 on the standard scale) or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or both (section 40 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1963).

You will need to submit your application no less than 21 days before the first performance or activity.

Download the standard child performance and activities licence application form (Doc, 57KB)

Submit your application form

You should ensure that the parent or guardian and the chaperone are given a copy of the whole completed form, which you submit to the Child Employment and Entertainment Officer. The form also must be signed by the parents.

Child Employment and Entertainment Officer

Telephone: 020 8726 6165
Email: child.employment@croydon.gov.uk

Address:
Education Welfare Service
4th Floor, Zone A
Bernard Weatherill House
8 Mint Walk
Croydon
CR0 1EA

Backdated and short notice licences

Backdated licences will not be issued because they undermine the licensing process which is a safeguard for the children. 

When licenses are requested at short notice, we will invariably try to accommodate requests. However, there must be enough time to deal with the application detail beforehand.

Productions should be mindful that we can insist upon the 21 days notice period.

If your application needs to be send to other local authorities

We may send your application form and the licence to other local authorities together with any information we think should be brought to the notice of the other authorities.

After you've applied

We must be satisfied that arrangements for the supervision and protection of the child are adequate, and that the disruption to the child's education is kept to a minimum.

It is best practice that organisations that involve children in performances, paid modelling or paid sport have or develop a child protection policy, regularly review and update it, and ensure that all staff and volunteers are familiar with it.