What is a chaperone?
Children in entertainment must be in the care of either their
parent, the children's legal guardian or an approved chaperone at
all times.
A chaperone is the key person to whom a child looks to for
guidance, protection, clarification and support.
The word 'Matron' is used within the legislation. Nowadays
matrons are generally referred to as chaperones. They are one and
the same.
Can the chaperone look after more
than one child?
The maximum number of children chaperones are allowed to have in
their care at any one time is 12.
In a lot of instances this may be too high a ratio (diverse
mixture of ages and sexes requiring more concentrated supervision,
type of venue etc.)
Therefore, the issuing local education authority may insist on a
smaller ratio of children per chaperone or that two chaperones are
required in order to split the care of male and female children
or/and wide differences in age groups.
Ratios are at the discretion of the child's licensing local
education authority.
What are the chaperone's
duties?
A chaperone's first priority is always to the child. They are
the key person to whom the child looks to for guidance, protection,
clarification and support.
Chaperones should keep 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.
One of a chaperone's greatest strengths is her / his ability to
negotiate with the production company 'on site' and be able to say
'no' when what is being requested of the child is contrary or
detrimental to either the child's health, well being and / or
education.
For example, requesting a child to stay at a place of
performance
- Over and above the hours / times laid down on either the
child's licence or within the regulations
- Lack of education time.
What if the child is
unwell?
At no time should a child perform if unwell. If there are any
child protection issues, don't wait, contact the police immediately
and remove the child from the situation.
Does the child need a
licence?
The chaperone should make him or herself thoroughly familiar
with the terms of the licences granted by the Local Education
Authorities and see that as far as lies within his / her powers,
the conditions are properly fulfilled.
The chaperone should be familiar with the Children
(Performances) Regulations 1968.
- Chaperones should not presume that a child is licensed to
perform.
- The child should not perform if a licence has not been granted,
unless they fall within the exemption period.
- Chaperones should always ask to see the licence of a child they
are chaperoning upon arrival at the place of performance if they
have not themselves already received a copy.
If the production company cannot prove that the child being
chaperoned is licensed, then on all occasions:
- Inform the child's local education authority, or
- the local authority in whose area the performance is taking
place as soon as is practicably possible, otherwise a contravention
may have occurred.
Does the chaperone need a
licence?
Yes, chaperones must be licensed.
It is important to think ahead when applying for a Chaperone
Licence, especially if you are booked to chaperone a forthcoming
performance, as the disclosure checks through the Criminal Records
Bureau can take six weeks or more to come through.
Can I act as or become a
chaperone?
Parents, unless they are also licensed chaperones, cannot
chaperone children other than their own.
Grandparents, uncles, child minders and the like
are not legal guardians unless they are
recognised as such by the courts. They need to be approved as
chaperones in order to chaperone a child.
To be approved as a chaperone, applicants must apply to the
local education authority in whose area they normally live.
What checks are required to
become a chaperone?
Generally applicants will be required to produce the following
documentation when applying to become an approved chaperone to
children in entertainment, ie name, address, references and
passport photographs, plus complete a Disclosure Application.
All applicants who are applying for a licence have to undergo a
Criminal Records Bureau check (CRB).
Follow this link for more information about the
Criminal Records Bureau.
Note: It will be necessary to think ahead when
applying for a Chaperone Licence, especially if booked to chaperone
a forthcoming performance, as the disclosure checks through the
Criminal Records Bureau can take six weeks or more to come
through.
Once this information is received by a local education authority
a decision will be made whether to issue a chaperone licence. There
will be a charge for disclosure checks. At present, 2004, the
charge is £29.00 for the CRB check plus a £15.00 administration
fee.
Click here to download a full guide of the
responsibilities of a chaperone (151kb)
Whom do I contact for an
application form?
Applicants must apply to the local education authority in whose
area they normally live.
You can download an application form here
(69kb)
Send your forms to:
Community and Children's Services
PO Box 270
London
EC2P 2EJ
or alternatively call 020 7332 1750 or
email.