The laws regulating children performances and activities:
- Children and Young Persons Act 1963
- The Children (Performances and Activities) (England) Regulations 2014
It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with these laws and regulations. If you have any queries you should contact the Council’s Learning Access Service.
Children aged 0-4
- Max number of hours at place of performance in one day: 5
- Earliest start time (Reg.21): 07:00
- Latest time (Reg.21): 22:00
- Max period of continuous performance or rehearsal (Reg.22): 30 minutes
- Max total hours of performance or re- hearsal (Reg.22): 2 hours
- Minimum intervals for meals and rest (Reg.23): Any break must be for a minimum of 15 minutes. If at the place of performance or rehearsal for more than 4 hours, breaks must include at least one 45 minute meal break.
- Minimum break between performances (Reg. 23): 1 hour 30 minutes
- Maximum consecutive days to take part in performances or rehearsal (Reg.26): 6 days
Children aged 5-8
- Max number of hours at place of performance in one day: 8
- Earliest start time (Reg.21): 07:00
- Latest time (Reg.21): 23:00
- Max period of continuous performance or rehearsal (Reg.22): 2.5 hours
- Max total hours of performance or re- hearsal (Reg.22): 3 hours
- Minimum intervals for meals and rest (Reg.23): If present at the place of performance or rehearsal for more than 4 hours but less than 8 hours, they must have one meal break of 45 minutes and at least one 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: Regulation 13(4) will be met if the child receives education:
- Not less than 3 hours per day (aggregated over a period of 4 weeks); but
- No more than 5 hours on any school day; and
- Receiving education totalling not less than 6 hours per week.
e.g. If a child would normally be attending maintained school for 5 days a week, over a 4 week period, the child would be required to undertake 60 hours education (3 hours x 5 days x 4 weeks).
- Minimum break between performances (Reg. 23): 1 hour 30 minutes
- Maximum consecutive days to take part in performances or rehearsal (Reg.26): 6 days
Children aged 9 and over
- Max number of hours at place of performance in one day: 9.5
- Earliest start time (Reg.21): 07:00
- Latest time (Reg.21): 23:00
- Max period of continuous performance or rehearsal (Reg.22): 2.5 hours
- Max total hours of performance or re- hearsal (Reg.22): 5 hours
- Minimum intervals for meals and rest (Reg.23): If present at the place of performance or rehearsal for more than 4 hours but less than 8 hours, they must have one meal break of 45 minutes and at least one 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: Regulation 13(4) will be met if the child receives education:
- Not less than 3 hours per day (aggregated over a period of 4 weeks); but
- No more than 5 hours on any school day; and
- Receiving education totalling not less than 6 hours per week.
e.g. If a child would normally be attending maintained school for 5 days a week, over a 4 week period, the child would be required to undertake 60 hours education (3 hours x 5 days x 4 weeks).
- Minimum break between performances (Reg. 23): 1 hour 30 minutes
- Maximum consecutive days to take part in performances or rehearsal (Reg.26): 6 days