doodlejobs00WHAT THE GUIDANCE SAYS
Most teenagers can start part-time work at 14.
UK government guidance sets out when school-age children can work, for how long and what they must be paid. The rules change at 14, at the school leaving age, and again at 18.
Check your age01Principles
02THE SHORT ANSWER
Children can work part-time from 14,
and from 13 in some council areas.
WHEN
Children can work part-time from 14. Some local councils allow part-time work from 13; under-14s in TV, theatre or modelling need a performance licence.
Check your ageHOW LONG
In term time an under-16 can work at most 12 hours a week, with no more than 2 hours on school days and Sundays.
See the limitsPAY
School-aged children are not entitled to the National Minimum Wage. Young workers aged 16 to 17 are entitled to at least £8 an hour.
Before you startGeneral information only, not legal advice. For advice on your own situation, speak to a qualified lawyer or a free advice service.
03CHECK YOUR AGE
Pick an age to see the main limits. The bar shows how much work the rules allow.
Summarised from GOV.UK guidance on child employment, minimum wage rates (from April 2026), rest breaks and school leaving age. Local council bylaws can add further limits.
04TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
One limit for under-16s,
one floor for 16 and 17 year olds.
12 hours
Most an under-16 can work in a term-time week
That includes no more than 2 hours on a school day or a Sunday, and no more than one hour before school unless local bylaws allow it.
HOURS · GOV.UK
£8 an hour
Minimum hourly pay at 16 and 17, from April 2026
Up from £7.55 in 2025 to 2026. School-aged children have no minimum wage entitlement at all.
PAY · GOV.UK
Every child must also have a 2-week break from any work during the school holidays in each calendar year.
05FOUR THINGS TO CHECK FIRST
A few questions worth asking an employer before a school-age child starts work.
Most councils require a child employment permit. Without one, the employer may not be insured for accidents involving the child.
No factory or industrial sites, nothing harmful to health or education, and nothing on the council's bylaw list of banned jobs.
Not in school hours, not before 7am or after 7pm, and no more than 4 hours without a break of at least an hour.
Young workers past school age usually get a 30-minute break after 4.5 hours, 12 hours' daily rest and 48 hours' weekly rest.
06AFTER SCHOOL LEAVING AGE
In England you can leave school on the last Friday in June if you will be 16 by the end of the summer holidays. Full-time work is then allowed, up to 40 hours a week.
Until 18 you must stay in full-time education, start an apprenticeship, or spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering while in part-time education or training.
07Questions
Usually 14. In some council areas children can work part-time from 13; ask the council's education department or education welfare service.
Up to 12 hours a week in term time and 25 hours a week in the school holidays, with daily limits on school days, Saturdays and Sundays.
No. School-aged children are not entitled to the National Minimum Wage. At 16 and 17 the minimum is £8 an hour from April 2026.
Most councils require employers to apply for a child employment permit. Work experience arranged by the school does not need one.
Yes, even under 14, but paid performances, sport and modelling usually need a child performance licence from the council, and a chaperone if no parent or teacher is there.
08Sources
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