Daughter/film dilemma - advice please.

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Through her drama group dd is signed with an extras agency which supplies to film and television. We never expected her to be offered much, it was more the experience.

Yesterday we were told that she's been picked to be a lead extra in a new movie being filmed at Pinewood. It will mean about 20 days of filming spread across May, June and July.

She in Year 4 and bright, but will obviously have her studies disrupted. She's in a private school and we'll have to have written permission from the head, if she were at a state school she would be automatically cleared by county.

I guess I'm asking for perspectives on whether or not it would be the right thing to do. She's very keen, but we obviously have to balance that with how it might affect her studies. Has anyone else been in a similar position?

Thanks!

Don't the film companies/agencies provide tutors? I always thought child actors had tutors on set. If it was my child I'd say go for it - you might all regret it if you don't, especially if she is very keen on acting and hoping to make a career out of it.

Thanks BB, just don;t want get this wrong!

AS long as you can get tutoring, I'd say you should go for it. But check who she will actually be spending her days with, but children and adults. Will you have to accompany her on set? I'm sure you'll get more info before you have to commit yourself and her. If everything is vague, that's more worrying.

They treat children very well on films.
Talk to the agency about what you should expect. They are working for you and your child remember not hte ohter way round

Go for it (as long as you're happy about the practicalitites). It will be a wonderful chance for her, whether or not she continues to do this kind of thing, and it's good to encourage children in things they are keen to try. Her school should be able to give information about what work she'll miss, and there should be chances to work on it with tutors etc, from what little I understand of these things.

Private/state makes little difference unless the head has a valid reason (eg behind with work).

The procedure is tha same for all schools. You will have to fill in a licence application form from the Education Welfare Officer with details of chaperones and private tutoring. The LEA will make the decision as to whether to licence your dd to take part and also how many hours of tutoring she will need.

Some counties contact the school direct, others ask you to get a letter from school stating there is no reason why she shouldn;t take part.

The premission for time off school ultimately comes from the Education Welfare Officer not the school and will be detailed on the licence.