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Chaperone licence
Chaperones are people licensed to accompany and look after children who take part in events, such as television, theatre, film, amateur performances, modelling or sporting activities.
By law, school age children up to and including year 11 must be accompanied by their parent, legal guardian, or a licensed chaperone when they’re taking part in, or rehearsing for, a public performance. Relatives and childminders aren't legal guardians (unless they've been appointed as such by the courts), and parents can only supervise their own child. To supervise other children, they must be licensed as a chaperone.
A chaperone's first responsibility is to the child in their care, who will look to them for guidance, protection, clarification and support. A chaperone should give the same care that a good parent would be expected to give to the child. Read the responsibilities of a chaperone and chaperones code of conduct for more details.
Who can apply
Anyone 18 or over who lives in Barnsley can apply to become a chaperone.
What you'll need
As a chaperone you'll need to have awareness and understanding of:
- safeguarding children requirements
- the child's age, experience, concentration span, and exposure to adult conversation and expectations (as they'll often be working in an adult environment)
- health and safety on stage and set, such as emergency evacuation procedures and first aid
- the need to take action when a child is tired, ill or upset
- signs and symptoms of intimidation and bullying
- the need for proof of the hours and times laid down in the child’s performance licence
- the need for negotiation with the production company on the child's behalf about health, education and hours
Fees
The fee for a volunteer chaperone licence is £9.95. The fee for a professional chaperone licence is £44.40. These fees are non-refundable.
How to apply
To apply for a chaperone licence you need to fill in our chaperone application form and email it to: admin-educationwelfareservice@barnsley.gov.uk. Please note, we don't accept applications sent by post.
You'll need to provide a copy of any child protection training you've done in the last three years. If you haven't completed any training you'll need to complete the safeguarding and protecting children e-learning course from Barnsley Safeguarding Children Partnership.
You'll also need to provide two personal referees: one who is able to evidence your successful working with children in either a professional or a voluntary capacity, and another one who's known you in a personal capacity for over two years (excluding family members).
What happens next
We'll acknowledge your application the same working day, or the next working day if we receive it after 3:30pm.
You'll need to attend a brief, informal interview around the roles and responsibilities of a chaperone and your knowledge of children in entertainment procedures. We'll also ask your permission to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and ask to see valid identity documents.
It can take up to 12 weeks to process your application and issue your chaperone licence. We can't guarantee that licences will be issued sooner than this, as the DBS system is separate to our service.
If you're approved as a chaperone
If you're approved as a chaperone your licence will be valid for three years. Approvals are granted subject to certain conditions and any breach of these could lead to your approval being withdrawn. You'll receive a certificate of approval which you need to keep in a safe place. You'll need to take this with you every time you chaperone a child, as you may be asked to produce it for inspection.
Contact us
You can contact us by emailing admin-educationwelfareservice@barnsley.gov.uk. Our opening hours are Monday to Thursday 8:30am to 5pm and Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm.
More information
Changes you need to tell us about
If you're licensed as a chaperone with us, you need to tell us within seven days of:
- any change to your address or name
- any arrest, offence or conviction
- any serious or notifiable illness or debility
Renewing your licence
To renew your chaperone licence you must apply at least 8 weeks before its expiry date.
Inspection of records
We can ask producers to give us access to the records of child performers. Chaperones are often designated to keep these. The records should include the times that the child is at the place of the performance, when they perform and rehearse, when they have their breaks and meals, and the waiting times between performances.
If you're not sure about the legalities of what producers may be asking of the child, ask us for advice.
You also need to tell us straight away if there is any contravention of the child's performance licence, or any incident that affects the child's wellbeing.
Looking after children on tour
Where children are on tour and living away from home, a chaperone will be be responsible for them throughout the duration of the licence. You must take constant charge of the child and accompany them at all times, generally with a greater amount of supervision than if the child was living at home.
Your responsibilities for a child on tour include making sure of the following:
- Lodgings are satisfactory, comfortable and clean. These must be approved by the council in whose area they are. If for any reason you think they're unsatisfactory you should insist on a change of accommodation.
- Transport is arranged to and from the place of entertainment. No child should normally have more than a three hour journey time.
- Children are properly occupied in their spare time and get plenty of exercise.
- Meal arrangements are suitable. Food should normally be provided at the lodgings.
- You sleep in the same accommodation as the child and close to where the child is sleeping.