Chaperones for children in entertainment
All children who require a performance licence must have a chaperone to supervise them while they are taking part in performances and ensure their health, safety and wellbeing.
The chaperone can be either the child’s parents, their legal guardian or an adult who has been approved by their local authority as a chaperone.
Relatives other than parents must get chaperone approval from the local authority area in which they (the relative) live before they can chaperone the child.
Chaperone responsibilities
A chaperone's first priority is always to the child. A chaperone is the key person to whom the child looks for guidance, protection, clarification and support.
Responsibilities include:
- checking the performance licence and telling the local authority if there are any concerns
- looking out for the child's wellbeing at all times
- making sure a child does not perform if they are unwell
- making sure the production company follows the terms of the licence and the rules set down by the legislation, and negotiating with the company or removing the child if they do not
- liaising with the production company to resolve any issues that might be harmful to the child's health, wellbeing or education
- removing the child if there are any serious child protection issues and contacting the police immediately
- keeping a note of important contacts, for example their licensing authority, the child's licensing authority, the local authority in whose area the child is performing, the child's agent and the child's parent/legal guardian
Apply for or renew for a chaperone licence
We can consider applications for chaperone approval for anyone who lives in Cheshire East and is over 18.
To renew a licence, you need to re-apply.
We need a minimum of 3 months to process the application and carry out relevant checks.
There are 3 steps in the approval process:
1. Send us your application
Complete the chaperone approval application form (MS Word, 54KB) and send it to us with a passport size photo of yourself if possible.
email:childemployment@cheshireeast.gov.uk
post:
Attendance and Children Out of School Service
5th Floor Delamere House
c/o Municipal Buildings,
Earle Street
Crewe
CW1 2BJ
2. Arrange a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
Book an appointment by calling 0300 123 5015 (option 3) - you can come to either of our Macclesfield or Crewe customer contact centres.
You will need to bring:
- your National Insurance Number
- a completed DBS form
- suitable ID documents - see list on DBS form
- a passport sized photo of yourself, if you have not already emailed a copy with the application form
- payment of £7.00 as a volunteer or £51 if you want to be a professional chaperone - you can pay by debit or credit card or cheque made out to Cheshire East Borough Council
For further information about DBS checks, see GOV.UK - DBS checks.
3. Do our chaperone training
Our chaperone training is currently online only.
Once we have received your application form we will email a link and instructions of how to log on. The training takes about 15 minutes.
When we are able to offer face to face training again, we will hold sessions in Crewe and Macclesfield. Face-to-face training is only for new applicants.
More information on regulations and responsibilities
As a chaperone, it is It is important you understand child performance regulations. For a list of laws and regulations with useful guidance documents, see National Network for Children in Employment and Entertainment - England performance legislation.