# Student-aide > Student-aide means an individual under 16 involved in education or training, receiving instruction and supervised childcare experience without **Term:** Student-aide **Last updated:** 2026-07-29 ## Definition ## What Student-aide Means in a Contract A Student-aide clause identifies a participant, always under the age of 16, who is placed within a setting to receive instruction and gain hands-on, supervised childcare experience. The defining feature is that the role is explicitly non-remunerative. The contract or placement agreement uses this label to distinguish the individual from paid staff, volunteers, or apprentices, and to signal that the relationship is educational in nature rather than contractual employment. Because the individual is a minor, the term also carries implicit safeguarding weight. Any document referencing a Student-aide should be read alongside the organisation's duty of care obligations, since the person is not simply a worker but a young person under supervision. This distinction matters for how liability, consent, and reporting lines are structured throughout the agreement. Contracts that use this term typically pair it with a description of the supervising adult or mentor, the educational objectives being pursued, and the boundaries of the tasks the Student-aide may perform. This framing helps prevent the arrangement from being mistaken for informal employment. ## How Student-aide Is Defined or Measured Definitions of Student-aide status are usually measured against three criteria: age, the presence of instruction, and the absence of compensation. Age is the clearest test, the individual must be under 16 at the relevant time. Instruction is measured by reference to a curriculum, module, or training plan that the placement provider or education provider has agreed to deliver. The supervised childcare experience component is often described qualitatively rather than numerically, for example through hours attended, tasks observed, or competencies demonstrated under direct oversight. Because no wages are paid, there is no rate of pay to calculate, but many agreements still track attendance and supervision ratios to demonstrate compliance with the law governing the contract and any relevant safeguarding standards. - Confirmation of the participant's age at the start of the placement. - A description of the instructional content and learning outcomes. - A statement that no salary, stipend, or benefit is provided. - Details of the supervising adult and reporting structure. ## Where Student-aide Appears in Agreements The term most commonly appears in placement or work experience style documents used by schools, nurseries, and childcare training providers. It can surface in a