It is important to be aware of legislation when it comes to being involved in any employment, work placed learning or vocational experiences that may take place in work environments.

Electively Home Educated children can do work experience, but it must only be for a short period only, or it may be considered to be employment and require a work permit.  Where young people are ‘Elective Home Educated’, and as part of their learning programme are involved in work experience or work environments, we recommend that you check all legislation is in place regarding health and safety, insurance and safeguarding.  This is so young people of ‘Statutory School Age’, which includes all children until the last Friday in June of their final year 11 educational school year, can safely and legally take part in these learning experiences. 

The Elective Home Education Team do not want to discourage wider learning activities from taking place, however, where children are involved in work related activities, as part of their wider education, ‘Child Employment Guidelines’ must be followed.  These guidelines outline the activities children can participate in, and the hours that can be worked.  No child is permitted to be involved in any work activities during the school day, even when they are Electively Home Educated, unless they have commenced their Year 10 academic school year.  Ongoing work experience, for Electively Home Educated children is only permitted in the school day once a child has entered into Year 10 and Year 11.  Where this is the case, these opportunities should complement and not hinder the overall quality of the home educational programme, so that other essential areas of learning are maintained and not pushed out. 

If a child is involved in any permitted work experience or work employment, who is Electively Home Educated, the parent must obtain a ‘Child Work Permit’.  This is for any child involved in these work related activities, even if this is outside of their education programme at home.  An Elective Home Education Officer will be able to sign and authorise a Child Employment Permit on the agreement that the child, the employer and the parents are following the guidelines in place. 

You can find out further guidance at Apply for a work permit certificate – Torbay Council where you can download the application, and also scroll down and click on the appropriate age, to see the activities young people are permitted to take part in.

Please remember that it is illegal for young people under 13 to work, other than in television, theatre, or modelling. Children working in these areas will need a performance licence which is issued by the local authority.  Young people must also not work before 7.00am, after 7.00pm, or for more than two hours on a school day or a Sunday. They cannot do any job that may affect their health and safety or interfere with their education.  Young people may also not work in any business, including the family business, without the employer notifying the local authority and obtaining a work permit.

If you would like to speak to the Local Authority Officer who oversees the Child Work Employment and Licensing in Torbay, please contact,

Email: licensing&permits@​torbay.gov.uk or telephone: 01803 207588