Child Performers Get a New Deal
Jayne Kirkham, CMF's Clerk to the Group reports...

- The need for equal opportunities and equal safeguarding for children in all types of performance on all types of platform
- Effectively rationalising the differences between screen, stage, ‘theatrical’ performance (acting, singing, dancing), and performing as oneself (documentary, interview, reality)
- Removing the ‘postcode lottery’ of different Local Education Authorities having their own regulations.
But what to do? The parliamentary calendar offered few options, but the Children and Families Bill was coursing through the legislative process and the changes to performance regulations were essentially concerned with child welfare.
But you can’t just slip in an extra sentence or two to a parliamentary bill... can you?
Baroness Benjamin started digging around and unearthed procedures and people with whom she could firmly plant the idea of an amendment to the Children and Families Bill. After passing through the Report Stage, the Bill has emerged with significant changes to child performance regulations.
Tabled by Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Schools, Lord Nash, in brief, these amendments will:
- Replace the complex restrictions on the hours children can perform at different ages, which were different for theatre and broadcast, with a simpler, single set of limits subject to age group (0-4, 5-10, 11-16).
- Repeal the limit on the nature of the daily performances that a child can be licensed to take part in.
- Remove the requirement for medical certificates. These could still be requested by the local authority if, for example, there was cause for concern about a child’s health, but would not be a requirement.
The government amendments were discussed in the Lords on 29th January and the Bill’s third and final reading is today (Feb 5th). Six months of carefully nurturing something the Department of Education threw out, and we’re seeing the Bill - and the all-important amendments - heading for Royal Assent. The result should be safe, happy and healthy child performances in the future.
For more information on The Children and Families Bill go to:
http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2013-14/childrenandfamilies.html.
Founder of Voice of the Listener and Viewer, Jocelyn Hay C.B.E. BFI Roadshow 2014
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