Step Four: Getting the Right Support in Place

Now it’s time to set up your placement and plan to ensure it goes as smoothly as possible.

Pre-placement Visit or Discussion

In preparing for your placement, it is a good idea to visit or have an initial discussion before you start. This gives you a chance to:

• Get to know one another a bit more.
• Understand what will be expected of you on placement and what you can expect from the experience.
• Familiarise yourself with the technology or site where the placement will be hosted.
• Meet the staff team or virtual project team.
• Confirm the access technology and equipment you will need to get the most out of the placement.
• Agree who does what in terms of safeguarding and risk assessment.

Who to Involve?

There are several different people you should include in discussions, including your work experience coordinator, careers lead, SENCO, QTVI and mobility specialist. They can all support with safeguarding, arranging access to technology and equipment and any additional support you may need.

Aids, Equipment and Support

You may have access to particular technology and software whilst at school or college. This could include braille display units, embossers, iPads and other tablets. It is important to talk to your school or college to ask if you can use this technology in your work placement. Have these conversations as early as possible.

Safeguarding and Risk Assessment

Your school or college must by law make sure a risk assessment has been carried out and safeguarding measures are in place. It isn’t your responsibility to carry out these, but you may want to ask if one is in place and what it covers.

After Your Placement

During or as soon as possible after you have completed your work experience, take time to reflect on the things you have done and write them down. Any achievements and skills you have developed can be used to build your CV or when making applications to university and vocational training programmes. This will depend on where you want to head in your future career.

Top tip – Ask for a reference and make a note of the person, their job title, and the company for future use! Always ask the person or alert them when you want to use them as a referee as they may not want requests landing on their desk or in their inbox unexpectedly.

Work Experience Checklist

To help you keep track of your progress, we have put together a simple checklist that you can download below.

Get the checklist here