Work Experience 2013 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 11 th March 2013 Finishing on Saturday 23 rd 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 Perkins Is 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 unsupervised Students find their own way to and from WEX Work will be limited - students will be supervised Students are representing the school and their parents School 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 Experience 2013 Sydney Smith School