POLICY AND PROCEDURE ON WORK EXPERIENCE

Transcription

1 POLICY AND PROCEDURE ON WORK EXPERIENCE Introduction Work Experience placements are covered by the Education Act (Work Experience) 1973 as amended Section 1(1) enables students in their last year of compulsory schooling to participate in schemes of Work Experience where arrangements have been made or approved by the Local Authority with a view to providing work experience as part of a student's education. Section 14 of the Employment Act 1990 amended the 1973 Act redefined the last year of compulsory schooling as the period commencing with the beginning of the final term of the penultimate year of compulsory schooling. Work Experience is defined (DFE, 1995 Work Experience, A Guide of Schools) as 'a student carrying out a particular task or duty, or range of tasks and duties, more or less as would an employee, but with the emphasis on the learning aspect of the experience.' All placements for students are arranged in accordance with the Shropshire Telford & Wrekin Education Business Partnership scheme of approval. Aims - To enable students to apply skills and deepen knowledge and understanding of concepts learned in the classroom. - To improve attainment by making learning more relevant. - To promote students personal and social development. - To develop their understanding of the world of work. - To broaden the range of continuing education training and employment which students consider. - To introduce students to the knowledge and skills of a particular occupational area before committing themselves. - To help students make the transition from school to work. 1

2 When Students will have one weeks Work Experience. This will be during the last full week of the Summer Term of Year 10. Student Programme The Work Experience Programme PREPARATION - introduction to programme in assembly - Work Experience application in Citizenship lesson - interviews with Work Experience Co-ordinator BRIEFING - Work Experience preparation in three Citizenship lessons - list of students and places to Form Teachers PLACEMENT - students out on weeks Work Experience at end of Summer Term - teachers visit students - students fill in diaries DEBRIEFING - two Citizenship lessons immediately after Work Experience placement FOLLOW UP - students writing statement for Summary ROA Finding Placements This is done in three ways :- 1. Students can find their own Work Experience placement 2. The Shropshire Telford and Wrekin Education Business Partnership produces a directory of placements provided. 3. The Work Experience Co-ordinator will contact local employers who have established links with our Work Experience programme and request places for students. Approval of Placements All placements are to be arranged in accordance with the Shropshire Telford and Wrekin EBP scheme of approval. All placements to be used will be visited by trained Placement Officers employed by Shropshire Telford and Wrekin EBP. Placements already approved appear annually in the Shropshire Telford and Wrekin EBP Work Experience Directory. New placements not in the Directory will have their details forwarded to the Work Experience unit by the Work Experience Co-ordinator for approval. 2

3 Student Placements - The Work Experience Co-ordinator will liaise with students to assist them in finding placements. - The Work Experience Co-ordinator will consult with individual students in a short interview to assist those students who require extra help in finding a suitable placement. - When a majority of students have been placed lists will be produced for checking by students. - We will try to avoid students doing work with which they are already familiar through family occupations, holiday work or weekend jobs. Preparation of Students for Work Experience The preparation of students prior to placement is essential. This is done in a number of ways:- - introduction to Work Experience programme in assembly by Pastoral Leader/Work Experience Co-ordinator. - Work Experience application. This will take place in a Citizenship lesson when discussion will take place on the value of Work Experience and expectations from the school and employers, prior to students filling in application forms. - Work Experience preparation. This will also take place in Citizenship lessons over approximately three weeks prior to students placements. It will cover aspects of :- * details of placement * dress code * attitudes, behaviour * Health and Safety * work experience diaries * assessment by employers * visits by school staff * ambassadorial role of student - encouraging students to visit or telephone their placement prior to starting to meet the supervisor and check arrangements. 3

4 Students on Work Exerience Students will have a diary to record their experiences. The diary will give students the opportunity to record factual information on the placement, a daily record, advice on Health and Safety, career profile. It will also allow for the placement provider's comments. After the Placement and Follow-Up Debriefing is a vital stage in the Work Experience scheme. It will take place in the first two Citizenship lessons after Work Experience. It will give students the opportunity to :- - identify what they have learned and how it relates to the rest of the curriculum - set their experiences into a wider context of working life - share their experiences - write a thank you letter to the placement - evaluate the placement and provide information for future reference - prepare a statement for Progress File Assessment Students will be contacted by at least one teacher. The team of teachers who visit students is made up of Form Teachers and other interested staff and provides feedback on workplace performance. Students' performance on the placement is assessed on a simple tick box proforma with a comment. Teachers will try and telephone or contact the placement to check on the student and arrange a visit. Teachers will talk to the student and the supervisor. If the student has been successful they will also gain a Certificate. Hours of Work Students will normally be required to work the usual working hours of the industry where they are placed. Unless there are strong reasons to the contrary it is recommended that students should not be asked to work more than a standard eight hour day or a 40 hour week. Payment Secondary age students on Work Experience should not receive payment from providers. Work experience is part of students' education. 4

5 Informing Employers - Work Experience Co-ordinator writes to employers requesting places and giving dates of Work Experience. - Students who have arranged their own will be required to give the name and address of the placement to the Work Experience Co-ordinator for them to check arrangements. - When students have been allocated placements, the Work Experience Co-ordinator will write to employers confirming name/s etc. Approval of Placements - Shropshire Telford and Wrekin EBP operate the scheme of approval which will deal with Health and Safety issues, insurance and the placement description. - The places that appear in the Shropshire Telford and Wrekin EBP directory will already have approval. - Places that are not in the directory will need to have details forwarded to the Shropshire EBP at least three months before for approval. CD/FOB