How long a child can work for

There are restrictions on the hours that a child is allowed to work based on their age and if it’s during term time or in school holidays.

Children aged 13 to 16 can work from 7am at the earliest and up until 7pm at the latest.

Children aged 13 to 14 can work for a maximum of:

  • 12 hours per week in term time
  • 2 hours per week day during term time (either one hour before school and one hour after school or 2 hours after school)
  • 25 hours per week in the school holidays
  • 5 hours per day in the school holidays
  • 5 hours on a Saturday (a one-hour break must be given for any child after working for 4 hours in a row)
  • 2 hours on a Sunday.

Children aged 15 to 16 can work for a maximum of:

  • 12 hours per week in term time
  • 2 hours per week day during term time (either one hour before school and one hour after school or 2 hours after school)
  • 35 hours per week in the school holidays
  • 8 hours per day in the school holidays
  • 8 hours on a Saturday (a one-hour break must be given for any child after working for 4 hours in a row)
  • 2 hours on a Sunday.

Children must get at least a 2 week break from school and work in the summer holidays.

If you’re employing a child you must complete a Health and Safety Risk Assessment for the child in the work that they will be carrying out. You will need to provide evidence of this when you apply for a child employment permit.