Part-time working permits

Information from OCC County Attendance Team, Child Licesning

Only Employers can apply for a Work Permit and only online applications are accepted - link below - this will generate a unique reference number.

Employing children | Oxfordshire County Council

Child employment legislation applies to children aged 13 to the end of compulsory school education (approximately 16 years of age). In England and Wales a child ceases to be of compulsory school age on the last Friday of June in the academic year in which they turn 16.

The employer must provide the following information/documents to support the application (attached to online application):

  • Photo – clear with no marks across the image; taken within the last 6 months
  • Risk Assessment
  • Written Parent permission
  • Written School permission – stating current attendance rate and signed by a school representative (not required for school holiday employment)
  • Proposed Days/hours

Note for obtaining written permission from school and parent/s:

Where it asks for the school and parent to complete their sections the applicant (employer) can download the application form as a PDF. This can be emailed or given to the child for them to take to the school and parent to complete their sections and returned to the employer – this should then be uploaded and submitted with the application.

 

How to apply for a child work permit and further legal conditions that apply to employing children.

Where a young person’s school attendance is above 90% and all relevant documentation has been supplied, a work permit will be issued.

For young people whose school attendance for the academic year is below 90% and where relevant documentation has been supplied, individual circumstances will be considered before a work permit is issued, however, the application may be declined on account of poor school attendance.

Key background

  • The definition of 'work' as applies to children below Minimum School Leaving Age (MSLA) is: 'any work that is part of a business whether or not the person is paid'.
  • Children cannot work until they are 13 years old and may only do work involving light duties.
  • Babysitting is not considered 'work' by the law.
  • All children who are employed must hold a work permit.
  • Statutory school leaving date is the last Friday in June in the academic year in which the child is 16 years old.

Work permits

  • A work permit can be issued to a child between 13 and the statutory school leaving age. The application must be completed by the employer, OCC do not accept work permit applications from parents/carers or children.
  • The work permit must be issued in the local authority where children work, regardless of where they live or go to school.
  • A risk assessment must be carried out and shown to the child’s parents before a work permit is issued.
  • The risk assessment must be submitted with the application form.
  • The work permit application form must be signed by the child's school.

Apply for the permit

The employer should apply for the work permit and the Guidance for using the parent portal is for the Employer and not the parent

Guidance for using the parent portal (pdf format)

Apply online for a child's part-time work permit