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Chaperone Approvals

Chaperone Approvals

All children licensed by a local authority to perform must be supervised at all times by a licensed chaperone/ matron or the child’s parent.

How to apply

Applications for a chaperone licence must be made to the local authority in whose area the prospective chaperone lives.

The application process involves:

  • Completing the application form (available below).
  • Obtaining an Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check. This check identifies any criminal convictions or information relevant to working with children.
  • Providing two references.

As part of the approval process, applicants must also:

  • Attend a chaperone training session, which covers the duties, responsibilities and legal requirements of the role.
  • Complete an online Child Safeguarding course, unless they can provide evidence of having completed equivalent safeguarding training within the last six months.

Final Chaperone Training dates

All of the following sessions will be held at our offices, unless stated otherwise:

1st Floor Cantium House

Railway Approach

Wallington

SM6 0DZ

  • Monday 21st September 2026 @ 5:30pm – 7:30pm (ONLINE)
  • Tuesday 20th October 2026 @ 2:00pm – 4:00pm
  • Monday 16th November 2026 @ 5:30pm – 7:30pm
  • Tuesday 8th December 2026 @ 2:30pm – 4:30pm
  • Monday 18th January 2027 @ 10:00am – 12:00pm
  • Tuesday 23rd February 2027 @ 5:00pm – 7:00pm
  • Thursday 25th March 2027 @ 11:00am – 1:00pm
  • Monday 19th April 2027 @ 5:00pm – 7:00pm
  • Thursday 20th May 2027 @ 10:30am – 12:30pm

Due to the various checks that have to be made, the time between the local authority receiving an application and the issuing of a chaperone licence can take a while, so please allow 8-12 weeks to obtain your approval.

Fees

The fees for a Chaperone Licence application or renewal are as follows:

Professional DBS  and Chaperone Licence 

£77.00 (inclusive of VAT and administration fees)

A professional chaperone is someone who receives payment for their services, other than reimbursement of genuine out-of-pocket expenses. If you intend to work professionally as a chaperone, you will be required to obtain a Professional DBS check.

Volunteer DBS and Chaperone Licence

£23.00 (inclusive of VAT and administration fees)

A volunteer chaperone may only receive reimbursement for genuine out-of-pocket expenses from the organisation for which they are acting as a chaperone. Receiving any additional payment for undertaking the role would be a breach of the declaration made when applying for a Volunteer DBS check.

Professional or Volunteer Chaperone Licence only

(Including replacement licences)
£15.00 (inclusive of VAT and administration fees)

If you already hold a DBS certificate that is registered with the DBS Update Service, and its status can be verified, the cost of the licence is reduced to £15.00.

What are the roles of a Chaperone?

Chaperones are responsible for the welfare of children taking part in performances. They accompany the child, provide protection, guidance and support.

Chaperones have a duty to represent the child’s best interests and to help ensure that the law and licence conditions relating to the child’s participation are complied with.

  • A chaperone’s first priority is always to the child
  • A chaperone is the key person to whom the child looks to for guidance, protection, clarification and support.
  • One of a chaperone’s greatest strengths is their 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 to the child’s licence conditions 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 in either the child’s licence or the regulations, lack of education time.
  • At no time should a child perform if unwell.
  • Chaperones 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 or legal guardian.
  • The maximum number of children chaperones are allowed to have in their care at any one time is 12. But, in a lot of instances this will be too many (diverse mixture of ages requiring more concentrated supervision and so forth). We recommend eight children to be the maximum in many cases.
  • The child should not perform if a licence has not been granted, unless they fall within the exemption period.
  • Chaperones should not presume that a child is licensed. Always ask to see a child’s licence upon arrival at a place of performance.
  • If the production company cannot prove that a child is licensed, chaperones should contact the Child Employment and Performance Licensing Officer. Otherwise, a contravention may have occurred. Production companies are required to log certain activities during a performance i.e. arrival and departure times at the place of the performance etc.

To apply for a Chaperone Licence, please complete this application form and our team will be in contact after your submission to speak with you about the process.

For more information about chaperone licences:

National Network for Child Employment and Entertainment (NNCEE)