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Enfield Work Experience |
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County
Guide to Work
Experience |
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What is Work Experience?
Work Experience enables students to gain a first-hand insight into the routine, problems and challenges faced at work. It is not necessary to find a placement with a job that might be a future career choice, as many of these are very hard to find. THE MAIN POINT IS TO BE ABLE TO CARRY OUT WORK TASKS AND DEAL WITH DIFFERENT SITUATIONS IN AN ADULT WORKING ENVIRONMENT. |
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Is Work
Experience for all Students?
Work Experience is an activity that takes place
within a framework of equal opportunities for all
regardless of race, gender or special educational
needs. |
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Work Experience Can:
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Develop the
ability to work with adults as part of a team.
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Build
self-confidence and self-esteem.
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Increase maturity,
initiative and decision-making skills.
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Add relevance to
the school curriculum.
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It can also provide
opportunities to:
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Gain insight into
business practices and processes.
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Find out how firms
are organised.
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Learn about
management and trades unions.
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Practice work
skills.
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Understand
employer expectations.
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Experience how
work is different from school
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It can contribute to
school work by:
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Increasing the
motivation to study.
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Clarifying the
relationship between the curriculum and the 'world
of work'.
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Being part of
examination coursework and the Record of
Achievement
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Are Students paid during Work Experience?
The simple answer is 'no'. The time is spent in undertaking simple tasks, observing staff, discussing and directly experiencing the working environment. Often the student will be an additional responsibility for the permanent members of staff, taking them away from their normal duties. Organisations may, if they wish, assist with some or all of a student's travel and lunch expenses. |
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What is expected of Students?
Students are expected to follow a programme, which has been agreed in outline in advance. They should also be prepared to work the hours specified on the placement description and to abide by the organisation's rules and regulations. Most students find Work Experience interesting, enjoyable and rewarding. |
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Insurance
Employers providing Work Experience have been informed that they should include students on their Employers Liability Insurance. In addition, The London Borough of Enfield has taken out a Personal Accident Insurance policy, which offers some additional limited cover for students attending LEA schools whilst they are on Work Experience. |
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What does the Government say about Work Experience?
The Government has restated its support for Work Experience and wants to make sure that all students have experience of the world of work before they leave school. The Government also recognises that workplace activities for students be immensely beneficial educationally. |
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Parents/Guardians can assist and support in a number of ways by:
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Encouraging their
daughter to pursue the opportunity to explore new
areas of work.
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Helping them with
the initial arrangements and preparations for the
experience.
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Ensuring that all
documentation is completed correctly and returned
promptly.
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Helping their
daughter to adopt good work habits e.g.
punctuality, appropriate appearance and behaviour.
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Discussing the
experience and drawing out what has been learnt.
The school will appreciate the comments of
parents/guardians when evaluating the experience.
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Finding new
placements, especially in areas of work where
supply is short. These should be notified to the
school, who will arrange the necessary checks are
made about proper insurance cover and appropriate
health and safety provision.
Some useful DO's and
DON'Ts
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DO NOT assume that
because you have arranged a placement that it can
go ahead, as the Borough is legally required to
carry out certain checks before allowing a
privately arranged placement to be used.
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DO arrange a
private placement as early as possible otherwise
it may not be possible to
carry out the legal checks in time for September.
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DO arrange an
interview as early as possible as late interviews
can mean that problems with the placement might be
discovered at too late a stage for them to be
solved.
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DO NOT just accept
an organisation not wanting to hold an interview.
Arrange to at least make a visit so that you know
where to go etc. in September.
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DO check
travelling arrangements and costs in plenty of
time. Finding it is too expensive or too difficult
to reach at the last minute is unfair to all the
people involved.
A timeline of the
placement process:
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March Year
10 - send requests for placements to Education
Industry Centre.
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Middle of May Year
10 - start matching students to actual placements
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END OF MAY YEAR 10
- FINAL DATE FOR ARRANGING PRIVATE PLACEMENTS
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Middle of June
Year 10 - matched placements notified to Education
Industry Centre.
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End of June Year
10 - final paperwork on placements in school and
given to students - must start arranging
interviews.
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End of July Year
10 - all students placed and employers notified -
ONCE A PLACEMENT HAS BEEN ACCEPTED YOU ARE
COMMITTED TO THAT PLACEMENT.
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SUMMER HOLIDAY - A
HELPLINE NUMBER WILL BE AVAILABLE TO DEAL WITH
PROBLEMS
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September Year 11
- Work Experience takes place and staff make
visits.
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October Year 11
onwards - Work Experience used for Record of
Achievement and coursework.
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