Work Experience2013

Sydney Smith School

Sydney Smith School

aims to provide

Work Experience

as part of a learners’ education

(Section 560 of the Education Act 1996)

Work Experience – When?

For a two week period

Starting on Monday 11th March 2013

Finishing on Saturday 23rd March 2013

Students may need to come into school if modular exams run within these dates

Work Experience - Why?

An integral part of Careers lessons

Give students autonomy and raises aspirations

Students see skills learnt in school transferred into the work-place

Supports post -16 education and future employment

Work Experience - Who?

All students in Year 10:

However, the school does have the right to withdraw a student from a placement at any time!

Work Experience – Where?

Self–found placements

Allocated placements

Who is involved?

WEX Co-ordinator – Mrs PerkinsIs responsible for the administration and

organisation of WEX

Is the first point of contact for parents

Liaises with placement providers

Works closely with Humber EBP/HCC to advise on placement availability and ensure risk assessments are carried out

Careers Teachers

Brief students about work experience expectations

Ensures students are knowledgeable about health and safety in the workplace

Assists students in making a decision on their placement choice

Makes visits to students during placement

SEND Co-ordinator

Ensures all learners with special education needs are placed suitably

Makes sure WEX is an integral part of an Individual Learning Programme

Is responsible for briefing SEN students and their parents on placement allocation

Ensures SEN students have support they need prior to and during their WEX

Makes visits to students during placement

Before completing Paperwork!

Make sure you know exactly what is involved:- What will you be doing for the 2 weeks?

Most placements are not hands on and students will be either shadowing or observing

What times/days will you be working? Ensure you can make the times/days stated by the employer

Can you get to there? Always take into account the distance and cost of travel

What will you do during lunchtime? Do you need a pack-up or can you go out, do you know the area?

Do you need any sort of uniform/safety wear? Some employers request you have heavy duty boots, overalls or similar, do you have them or can you borrow them?

Make sure!

Before signing up for a placement you know exactly what is involved

All the paperwork is signed and returned to Mrs Perkins within the time scale

You contact the placement at least 2 weeks before you go out on placement, some students may need to attend an informal interview

You use your journal throughout the WEX

Parents Must!

Make sure they are aware of all the placement details, if you are concerned about any aspect of the placement please contact Mrs Perkins at the start – (before completing the paperwork)

During WEX contact the school if: your child cannot attend their WEX for any reason you have any concerns about the placement your child has an accident on WEX

Support and encourage your child throughout the two weeks and help them to complete their journal

Important points to remember!

Students/parents cannot arrange their own placements – independently

Students not going out on WEX must be in school - the school attendance policy still applies throughout the WEX period

Lunch-times on WEX are unsupervisedStudents find their own way to and from WEXWork will be limited - students will be supervisedStudents are representing the school and their

parentsSchool staff will be visiting students

What happens after WEX?

Within Career lessons students write to their placement providers to thank them for their time and effort

The school writes and thanks the placement providers and requests feed back on how the students performed on their WEX

Students use this experience in Year 11 when applying for further education or employment, journals support their WEX

Work Experience2013

Sydney Smith School