Worcestershire Education Welfare Service

CHILDREN OF COMPULSORY SCHOOL AGE IN PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT

A GUIDE FOR EMPLOYERS AND PARENTS

The law requires that every child of compulsory school age who undertakes part time employment must be registered with Children's Services.  (For more detailed information telephone 01562 757651 or e-mail jdavies@worcestershire.gov.uk)

Here are a few of the rules governing the employment of children who are of compulsory school age.

The law states that no child under the age of 13 years can be employed – this includes working for parents who own their own business.  A parent does NOT have the right to over rule this legislation.

Children must be registered with Children's Services where the employment is situated – i.e. the Authority to whom the business pays their business rates.  Every employer must register all children of compulsory school age with that Children's Services.

There are penalties and fines for employers (and in some cases parents) who do not register children of compulsory school age as determined by Section 18 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the Standard Scale (£1000) for each offence, and also Worcestershire County Council bye laws.