Apply for a child

Employers must apply for a permit for a school aged child to work for them in Hertfordshire.

A school aged child is defined as being between 13-16 years old. They're no longer legally classed as a school-aged child from the last Friday in June in the academic year in which they reach 16.

It's illegal to employ a child in paid or unpaid work:

if they're under 13

outside the permitted hours of employment

if the child doesn't have a work permit (unless they're doing babysitting, volunteering as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme or undertaking work experience organised by the child's school)
for more than 2 hours on a school day or a Sunday
unless it's 'light work'
on a self-employed basis.

Download the child's work permit application form

What can I employ a child to do?

There are certain jobs that children aged 13-16 are not allowed to do. Other jobs are only allowed to be done under 'light working' conditions.

Light working is work that will not:

be harmful to the safety, health or development of the child
affect their school attendance
affect participation in work experience.

Work you can't employ a child to do

It is illegal to employ a child to work:

in a cinema, theatre, disco, dance hall or night club
selling or delivering alcohol (except in sealed containers)
delivering milk
delivering fuel oils
in a commercial kitchen (except washing up or waiting)
collecting or sorting refuse
in any job 3 metres above the ground inside or outside
in a job involving dangerous exposure to physical, biological or chemical agents
in a job involving exposure to adult material or in situations unsuitable for children
in telephone sales
in any slaughterhouse or butchers shop
in a gambling environment
in the personal care of residents of any care home or nursing home.

'Light work' you can employ a 13 year old to do

You can only employ a 13 year old in 'light work' to:

do agricultural or horticultural work (under the supervision of their parent or guardian)
deliver newspapers, journals and other printed materials
work in a shop
work in hairdressing salons
do office work
wash cars in a private residential setting
work in a cafe or restaurant
work in riding stables
clean in hotels and other establishments offering accommodation.

Hours of work for a child

Children can only work between 7am and 7pm.

13 and 14 year olds can work:

2 hours a day during term time
5 hours on a non school day
2 hours on a Sunday
12 hours a week during school term
25 hours a week in school holidays.

15 and 16 year olds can work:

2 hours a day during term time
8 hours on a non school day
2 hours on a Sunday
12 hours a week during school term
35 hours a week in school holidays.

After working 4 hours, children should get a 1 hour break.

Children are only allowed to work 1 hour before a school day begins.

Employment byelaws

Read our employment byelaws leaflet for further information on employing a child.

Read our School Age Employment and Work Permit Guidance for further information on the laws covering the employment of school age children in Hertfordshire, the safeguarding responsibilities of Hertfordshire County Council, and the roles of employers; parents; schools and other partners.

Our Helpful guide for young people leaflet has all the information you'll need if you're 13–16 and are working whilst in statutory education.

Read our Privacy Notice on Work Permit Applications for School Aged Children for details about why we need your information, what we will do with it, how long we will keep it and what your rights are.

Apply for a child's work permit

What can I employ a child to do?

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