A toilet break is an ordinary part of a working day, but it can become awkward for a child performer if nobody has explained the route or who to ask. A child may wait because they do not want to interrupt, feel embarrassed about speaking in front of others or worry that they will miss a call.
This guide is for approved chaperones and production teams working on licensed performances and activities in England. The legal points are specific to England. The practical suggestions are good practice, not a national toilet procedure, and they do not replace the child’s licence conditions, local authority instructions or the production’s safeguarding arrangements.
Start with the venue, not the schedule
Before the child arrives, find the toilets they are expected to use. Walk the route from the holding area, tutoring space, changing area and place of performance. Check whether access needs a key, code, lift or member of venue staff. A facility can be nearby on a floor plan and still take time to reach in a working venue.
Look at the practical details. Is the route clearly marked? Will the child pass through a public or busy crew area? Is there an accessible toilet if one is needed? Who can resolve a cleaning, lighting or access problem? These questions are easier to answer before a child is waiting at the door.
For licensed work in England, regulation 17 of the Children (Performances and Activities) (England) Regulations 2014 says the licensing authority must approve the place used for the performance, rehearsal or activity. The authority must be satisfied that the venue has suitable and sufficient toilets and washing facilities. It may attach conditions to its approval.
That is a venue approval requirement. It does not prescribe one identical toilet routine for every production. The licence, council instructions, venue layout and the child’s needs shape the working arrangement.
Make it easy for the child to ask
Include toilet arrangements in the child’s first briefing, using plain language. Show them where the facilities are and tell them which adult to approach. Avoid giving the impression that they need to wait for a formal break or explain a private reason in front of the group.
A younger child may need a simple phrase they can remember. An older child may prefer a discreet word or signal. Either approach is useful only if the adults around them recognise it and respond without making the request public.
Do not assume silence means the child is comfortable. A new performer may be trying hard to appear easy to work with. A calm reminder before a rehearsal, costume change or longer wait gives them another chance to speak without being singled out.
The Chaperone Collective guide to briefing a child performer before the working day has more ideas for explaining names, places and ways to ask for help.
Keep supervision clear
In the England regulations, an approved chaperone has care and control of the child and must safeguard, support and promote their wellbeing during the licensed activity. Regulation 15 sets out that role, while also recognising the exception where the child is being cared for by a parent or the teacher who ordinarily provides their education.
The regulations do not set out a single national rule for exactly where an adult should stand during every toilet visit. Productions should agree an arrangement that keeps responsibility clear while respecting the child’s age, privacy, communication needs and any licence or local conditions.
Work out adult coverage before it is needed. If one chaperone cannot leave other children, the answer should not be improvised in a corridor. The team needs a safe, agreed way to maintain appropriate supervision for everyone. If the layout or staffing makes that difficult, raise it with the named production contact through the proper route.
Plan for privacy and personal needs
Toilet access is personal. Children should not have to announce periods, continence needs, medication or a disability to a room of people. Share relevant information only with those who need it, using the production’s approved private systems.
Check that period products and a suitable disposal route are available or that the child knows where their own supplies can be kept. If a parent or carer has given instructions about intimate care, medication or assistance, follow the agreed plan and production procedure. Do not make up a new arrangement on the day or ask the child to manage an adult decision alone.
Clothing can change what seems like a quick visit. Fastenings, wigs, microphones or a complicated costume may require planning with the relevant department. Keep any conversation practical and private. The child should know who can help and what will happen, rather than discovering the problem when they are already in a hurry.
Account for calls and changing plans
A request may come just as a child is called to rehearse or perform. Pass the information promptly to the named production contact. Do not pressure the child to ignore the request, and do not promise a precise return time when the route or costume makes that uncertain.
If there is a delay, tell the child what is happening in simple terms and keep responsibility clear. A production change may also affect tutoring, costume or collection plans. The guide to helping a child performer when plans change offers practical ways to explain a revised plan without passing adult pressure on to the child.
Repeated difficulty getting to the toilet, a facility that becomes unavailable or a child who is worried about using it is information the team needs. Record or report it through the production’s agreed route, according to the circumstances. If it affects the approved arrangements or a licence condition, use the appropriate production and local authority route rather than treating it as a minor convenience issue.
A short pre-call check
- Find the toilets and walk the route the child will use.
- Check access, accessibility and who can resolve a venue problem.
- Tell the child where to go and how to ask discreetly.
- Agree adult coverage and responsibility before the first call.
- Plan privately for costume, period, continence, communication or access needs.
- Check the licence, local authority instructions and production procedures.
The Department for Education’s published advice explains the wider child performance licensing framework in England. It has no statutory force, so the legislation and the conditions for the particular child remain the formal starting points.
Good toilet planning is quiet and practical. The child knows where to go, can ask without embarrassment and does not have to work out who is responsible while the adults are busy.