Child Performance Licence requirements are covered by the BBE BOPA. This means performing bands with children in year 11 or below have the following responsibilites (from the BBE requirements):
- There must be an adult-to-child ratio of at least 1:12 for Supervising Adults who have had a DBS check or DBS Status check carried out in the last three years. In the case of a parent supervising their own child, a DBS check is not needed but they can only supervise their own child, no others. Please note that where parents are supervising their own children this does not remove the need to have a BOPA in place.
- The Supervising Adult must supervise the children in their care, keeping them in sight and/or sound at all times. This includes rehearsing for the performance on the day, during the performance period and taking part in the activity*. Each child must know who their Supervising Adult is.
- Where parents are supervising their own children, the supervision must be to the same level as that of a Supervising Adult (children must be kept in sight/sound at all times).
- The Supervising Adult’s duty is to the child and they must advocate for them and stand up to any request that they believe is not in the child’s best interests or which might adversely affect their health or wellbeing.
- The Supervising Adult must challenge behaviour and actions that they feel are not appropriate when children are involved, and raise any worries about health, safety and risk in any area of the performance or activity.
- The Supervising Adult must make sure that children who are unwell are not expected to perform.
- The Supervising Adult must not drink alcohol or smoke while on duty. They must not take care of a child while under the influence of alcohol or drugs or whilst wearing inappropriate clothing (clothing which is revealing or with potentially offensive logos, messages or images). They must not use inappropriate language in front of a child.
- The Supervising Adult must have knowledge and understanding of The Children (Performances and Activities) (England) Regulations 2014, or The Children (Performances and Activities) (Wales) Regulations 2015 for performances in Wales, and be capable of exercising care and control of the children in their care.
- Please see ‘Keeping young performers safe – Guidance to accompany the 2015 child performance regulations’, for additional support for performances in Wales.
* The Supervising Adult may also play in the band, but must maintain sight of the child in their care at all times during the performance. If the child needed to leave the stage then so must the Supervising Adult and all children in their care. For this reason we strongly recommend that you provide more than one adult to every 12 children, so that the legal minimum ratio of 1:12 can be maintained even if an adult becomes unavailable. During non-performing times the Supervising Adult must apply the usual rules about maintaining sight and/or sound to facilitate activities such as toilet breaks, but preferably both sight and sound should be maintained.