Part-time working permits

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.

Follow the link for further details and pass on the link for the EMPLOYER to apply online 

LINK: https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/business/advice-businesses/employing-children


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, we 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