As I finished the post I can already hear the questions

So "when I was a lad" you could legally leave school at 15 (Easter term) without taking any of the new fangled CSE exams, instead you started an apprenticeship if you were lucky normally in the September at the start of the next education year - this was the situation when I entered employment. Wind forward a generation and my son was the first wave expected to stay in full time education until 18 years of age.

Problem is that as the people behind the scenes grow up understanding their own unique circumstances they fail to comprehend what may have gone before and write their norms in to the rules - so if  I were an employer insurer/underwriter is it unreasonable I expect within current education law that anyone entering the workplace woud now be 18+?

A not disimilar situation exists with ID (the photo driving licence is neraly twenty years old - BIG HINT for early adopters it is time to update your photo again) "no the pink/green paper is my driving licence - your company policy fails to understand it remains a legal document even without a photograph"

The link below may help you with this but I would also be asking the insurers if the policy covers work experience students who are considered to be children at this age. Alternatively, the school where the child attends may have this covered by their insurers but you will want proof.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/youngpeople/law/index.htm

Contrary to previous posters, I see no reason why a child of that age cannot get some experience of the world of work. I find it quite patronising to state a child would be incapable, without knowing the individual.

If we do not offer them the opportunity, how will they ever grow and develop? Rather lets wait till they are 18 and they will automatically be mature enough(?)!

It is lazy H&S in my opinion to create blanket bans and is borderline discrimination based purely on individual prejudice, from those who believe the next generation are inferior to the one before. Those same people who themselve relied on the good grace, nuturing and support to help them to make that transistion into the workplace. I hope my children do not become victim to these people as they attempt to grow and mature into adults.

It is however, an undertaking for you as the employer, as you will need to closely supervise the child and ensure you are only exposing them to apprpriate woks.

From my experience in an early H&S role of facilitating WEX for schools and employers, just inform your insurance company what you are doing, they will not have an issue with this.

Edited by user 16 February 2018 11:09:03(UTC)  | Reason: Spelling mistake

We have had a YP here for 2 weeks- part of it was working in the warehouse. He was 14 and a half. Our insurers were fine with it.

As previously stated- RA and supervision.

His parting words were 'I don't want to be doing THAT'. Experience it was, good it wasn't.

I think its a great idea to give them some experience of working life.

Andy

Children under 14 are banned from our shop floor for any reason.  I consider with the machinery, vehicles and stock movements (including rack climbing and other fun pursuits) that they are simply too immature and unworldly at that age to be trusted.

Originally Posted by: Charlie Brown

I do in fact agree with you WatsonD and I have actually had a work experience yp on site for a week under the watchful care of his dad at the age of 14. Worked out fine but regarding insurance, ours did not cover the child but his school did which in that instance was all good. Just need to be aware is all. Also, the HSE guide is what I used at the time and found it helpful which is why I posted it. 

Apologies Charlie as it was not your post I was referring to.

https://www.gov.uk/child-employment/restrictions-on-child-employment

Please read all the information on this website.  I would say for a day like bring your son/daughter to work day but not during school holidays for full weeks.  I think a 13year old in a warehouse would be a nightmare, trying to keep them off the MHE, stop them climbing the racking etc. 

Originally Posted by: Hsquared14

https://www.gov.uk/child-employment/restrictions-on-child-employment

Please read all the information on this website.  I would say for a day like bring your son/daughter to work day but not during school holidays for full weeks.  I think a 13year old in a warehouse would be a nightmare, trying to keep them off the MHE, stop them climbing the racking etc. 

I would imagine that to be the behaviour of a 3 year old, but not a 13 year-old. Also, I don't think anyone would suggest to stick him in the warehouse and leave him on his own.

Some of the responses on here are suggesting that all under 18 year-olds are feral.

As are many over 18 years of age

Originally Posted by: Hsquared14

WatsonD - have you ever stood outside a school at chucking out time?  Trust me you wouldn't want to be there.  We have a secondary school directly opposite our site and there is no way on God's good earth I would allow one of them through the gate let alone inside the warehouse!!!

Yes, many times, and I also worked in a FE College for over ten years and know there is a great divide between teenager acting up to their peers and those in unfamiliar surroundings. I learnt that 14 year-olds can be very mature and 23 year-olds quite childish. So I don't discrminate on age group.

One of the roles I held in my time at the college was to coordinate WEX placements for year 10 into workplaces. We covered many workplaces , from farms and stables to warehouses, shops, resaurants. Airports, police stations, fire station and hospitals. Even a firework display company.

I also taught apprentices in classroom and visited them as an NVQ assessor onsite. Their behaviour in a 'pack' in the classroom with their peers was far removed from their behaviour as individuals in the workplace.

To respond to the criticism about mentioning WEX.

Here is the authoritative guidance on the subject of employing children. It is a much better document than the one linked earlier.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/193326/Child_employment09.pdf

One of the prohibited activities is  "transport of passengers or goods, including handling goods in a warehouse".Therefore, unless it is authorised work experience then it will not be permitted by the local bye laws. So the anawer in that case is 'yes it is prohibited by law'.

However, I suggest that  the O.P. reads through the document in order to make the best decision for both the child concerned and the business. The general prohibitions are in section 6 but section 10 outlines how these rules can be modified.

I dont consider it appropriate to discount the possibility that this is, in fact, WEX when offering advice based on the O.P. question. To do so might prevent a perfectly acceptable experience for a child. 

Edited by user 18 February 2018 16:19:09(UTC)  | Reason: corrected typo

Ros, you have private mail.