Parrs Wood Sixth Form College

Work Experience

Year 12 Work Experience

GUIDANCE FOR PARENTS/CARERS

Work experience is when students spend time in an adult working environment carrying out tasks and duties more or less as an employee, but with the emphasis on learning about the world of work.  The placement will not necessarily reflect the eventual career choice of the student but should allow a broad experience of the workplace and an opportunity to develop skills for the future.  Work experience for Year 12 students is between 17th and 21st July 2023.

 

THE BENEFITS OF WORK EXPERIENCE

Work experience helps students to:

  • Understand the world of work

  • Improve and appreciate their skills and talents

  • Gain confidence

  • Accept the importance of schoolwork and studying

  • Gain knowledge of particular jobs or careers

 

ORGANISATION OF THE PLACEMENT

Students are encouraged to organise their own placement to ensure it is the most relevant, and therefore provide the best and most useful experience. As such we need every student to return their ‘Placement Form’ before the work experience starts. This confirms the employer has all the necessary insurance and risk assessments required for hosting a young person within their organisation. If the employer information is not received by this date, we advise the student does not take part in the work experience. There will be an alternative work package provided for the students to complete at home during the allocated work experience week. Students are generally discouraged from taking placements with their close relatives or part-time employers as facing new environments is part of the experience.

 

Your child can speak to subject staff, their tutor, our Future Choices Advisor Ms Brotherton and anyone else in the Sixth Form team for additional support and guidance in finding a suitable work experience placement. Many opportunities have already been shared for the students to apply for independently.

 

BEFORE THE PLACEMENT

The college will prepare the students before their work experience in the following areas:

  • Health and safety in the work place

  • Standard of behaviour expected

  • Safeguarding themselves

  • What to do if things go wrong

  • What to do if ill or unable to attend

 

DURING THE PLACEMENT

Work experience can be quite a challenge!  

You can help by:

  • Checking that the placement is going well

  • Encouraging a mature response to any difficulties

  • Encouraging your child to persevere even if the placement is not what they expected

  • Letting the school know if there is a real problem

 

We will help by:

  • Contacting each of our students on placement throughout the week

  • Being available on our designated contact number throughout the whole week

 

AFTER THE PLACEMENT

Many young people find work experience is a key influence in developing their self-esteem and enjoy the time spent in an adult environment. Students will get a chance to discuss their experiences in sixth form but as a parent you can also talk over what your child has gained from the experience and highlight the importance of the experience in developing a CV or writing their Apprenticeship and/or UCAS application.

 

OTHER INFORMATION

Reporting Accidents

Placements providers are required to report any accident or incident involving a student to yourself.  If you have any concerns with regard to accidents, please contact the sixth form for additional support.

 

Confidentiality

Students are expected to hold in confidence any information about the employing organisation that they may obtain during work experience. This includes information shared on social media platforms.

GUIDANCE FOR EMPLOYERS 

WHAT IS WORK EXPERIENCE?
Work experience is a placement on an employer’s premises in which a student carries out particular tasks, more or less as would an employee, but with the emphasis on the learning aspects. The School Standards and Framework Act 1998 enables pupils to go on work experience during the last two years of compulsory education (i.e. from the beginning of Year 10).Work Experience helps students with their transition from school to work or further education. It can help them make decisions about their future career and training. Students may benefit from working an 8-hour day, getting to work on time, talking to and being with adults other than parent/carer or teachers, and from seeing how different companies operate.

STATUS OF WORK EXPERIENCE STUDENTS
Under the Health & Safety (Training for Employment) Regulations 1990 students on work experience have the same status as employees under the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Employers therefore have a general duty to ensure students’ health, safety and welfare during their placement.

EMPLOYERS’ INSURANCE
The major insurance associations have agreed that as a matter of convention, students on work experience placements should be treated as employees for the purpose of insurance i.e. they will be covered by the Employers’ Liability Insurance policy. 

Provided that the insurer has had advance notification of work experience occurring. The agreement reached with the insurance associations is based on the assumption that placements will last for up to two weeks. For placements lasting longer than 2 weeks, including where placements are for 1 or more days per week over an extended period, employers need to confirm with their insurance company that students are covered.

Parrs Wood Sixth Form College will also need confirmation that employers hold Public Liability insurance which will cover any liability arising from students’ placements. Self-employed people MUST contact their insurance company to arrange appropriate insurance cover and be able to provide evidence on the ‘Work Experience Placement Form’ that the necessary insurance is in place before providing a placement.

HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE
The main health, safety and welfare requirements for students are:

  • Risk Assessment by the employer of the activities in which the student will be engaged;
  • Adequate supervision at all times, taking account of the age and lack of knowledge and experience of the student;
  • Child protection - the employer should have regard for the welfare of young people in the workplace;
  • Briefing by the employer on the health and safety aspects of their workplace; 
  • Provision of personal protective equipment if appropriate.  

 

RISK ASSESSMENT
The Management of Health and Safety of Work Regulations 1999 (as amended) require employers to do a specific risk assessment before a child or young person starts work. This includes part-time jobs, work experience and training programmes. Risk assessment is a careful examination of what, in the workplace, could cause harm, and to ensure that enough precautions have been taken to prevent harm. Young people in the workplace are particularly at risk due to their inexperience, immaturity and lack of awareness of risks in the workplace. Employers must take these factors into account. They should also consider the extent of the young person’s physical and psychological capacity.

CHILD PROTECTION
Safeguarding of Children in Education (DfES Guidance September 2004), requires that employers have due regard for the welfare of young people in the work place. For some placements it may be necessary to carry out a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check with an employer or placement supervisor. Further child protection guidance for work experience placements is available via the High School (0161 445 8786).

REPORTING OF ACCIDENTS
A student involved in an accident at the workplace should be treated as an employee for the purposes of reporting to the enforcement authority [RIDDOR]. In addition any accident, illness or unauthorised absence regarding the student should be notified to the school and/or Parents/Carers without delay.

CONFIDENTIALITY
It should be made clear to students that they must hold in confidence any information about the employing organisation that they may obtain during work experience. Such information may not be disclosed without the employer’s permission. This includes sharing of information on social media.

GDPR
All data held on the young person must be done so in accordance with the 2018 General Data Protection Regulations. This includes the secure storage and appropriate management of student information within and outside the organisation. A record of the student may be kept in relation to work experience only for up to 6 years from termination of the placement or until age 21, whichever is longer.