Employment of children

Table of Contents

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead delivers the child employment service through Achieving for Children, a community interest company set up in partnership with the Royal Borough of Kingston and the London Borough of Richmond.

These regulations apply to children from the age of 13 up until the end of school year 11. It is illegal to employ a child under the age of 13.

In order to work lawfully a child must have a work permit issued by the child employment officer. You can email:  rbwm.admissions@achievingforchildren.org.uk to apply for a permit

Note to employers: A completed application form must be sent to the local authority within one week of employment. All work permits are issued subject to the approval of the local authority.

Byelaws have been adopted by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead which affect both the hours that children may work and the type of work children may do. These byelaws are in addition to any other rules and regulations which apply to any particular workplace, for example health and safety regulations.

Hours that can be worked

The hours that children can work are strictly regulated. Any employer in breach of these regulations will be subject to legal proceedings.

School days

  • All children: up to a maximum of 12 hours per week during term time.
  • Either between the end of the school day and 7pm up to a maximum of two hours.

or 

  • One hour between 7am and 8am and one hour between the end of the school day and 7pm.

Saturdays and school holidays

  • 13 or 14 years of age: five hours per day up to a maximum of 25 hours per week in school holidays.
  • 15 or 16 years of age: eight hours per day to a maximum of 35 hours per week in school holidays.

In addition

  1. The employment must not take place before 7am or after 7pm, and
  2. The child shall not be employed for more than four hours consecutively, and
  3. The child shall be free for rest and recreation for a continuous period of one hour after each period of employment.

Sundays

All children: maximum two hours which must be between 7am - 7pm.

Child employment : Contact details

For further information, please contact us by:

Child Employment Officer - Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
Town Hall, St Ives Road
Maidenhead SL6 1RF