Children who are of compulsory school age can start working from the age of 13. Compulsory school age lasts until the last Friday in June of the school year when they turn 16.
Work permits are issued by the local authority where the work is to take place. So, if a child is working in the London Borough of Enfield, they must have a work permit issued by us, even if they are not Enfield residents.
Each job requires a separate application. A child must have a permit even if they work for their family's business. They are considered employed whether they get paid or not. However, they cannot work before 7am or after 7pm.
The permit can be taken away if the job affects the child’s health, school attendance, or school work.
Employers will receive an employment permit to keep on record and show during inspections. Employers should be aware that:
- they are responsible for ensuring the child has a work permit
- they should ensure their liability insurance covers the child’s employment
- their insurance company may challenge a claim if they employ a child without a permit
- a child cannot work during usual school hours, or for more than 4 hours without a break of at least 1 hour
It is a criminal offence to employ a child of compulsory school age without an employment permit, to employ a child under the age of 13, or to breach any child employment regulations. We will take legal action against anyone committing such offences.
To apply for a work permit, you need to submit:
- a child employment permit application (PDF, 324.43 KB), completed and signed by the employer and parent or guardian
- a parental declaration of health (PDF, 196.22 KB), completed and signed by the parent or guardian
- a school declaration (PDF, 183.8 KB), completed, signed and stamped by the child’s school
- a full risk assessment, completed by the employer
- a passport style photograph of the child taken within the last 6 months
For more information see:
Licence applications should be emailed to ews@enfield.gov.uk.