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Work Placements, Work Experience, Work-Based Vocational Training and School-Business Partnerships
Pupil work placements can take the form of:
- work experience, generally a 5-day placement undertaken in S4; managed and delivered by Careers Scotland or local authorities
- work-based vocational learning for pupils aged 14+ involving an agreed amount of time in the workplace ( e.g. half day a week) working towards a vocational qualification; managed and delivered by local authorities in partnership with colleges, private providers and businesses
- visit to a business as part of experiential learning; managed and developed by local authorities or schools.
It can be challenging for schools in some areas to establish a range of local work experience placements for pupils and the school's procedures to ensure children and young people are safe and well, should be presented as positive steps for both the organisation and the pupil for their mutual safety.
- schools should gain feedback from pupils on the quality of placements and the staff in the organisations who supported them. If pupils have felt uncomfortable, this should not be ignored when planning future placements
- organisations willing to provide work experience placements should be assessed for their suitability, proposed supervision of the pupil, and the organisation's own staff safety policies. The experience for both the organisation and the pupil will not be successful if they hold different expectations
- the nature of the business and the tasks to be undertaken are suitable for the pupils
- pupils are properly prepared for their placement with advice on appropriate conduct and personal safety
- pupils have a member of school staff they can contact at all times
- there are arrangements with the host organisation to contact the school if there are difficulties or if the pupil fails to arrive
- transport arrangements to and from the placement are known by the school, the host organisation and the parent.
Disclosure checks
Some organisations have employees whose regular duties include supporting a work placement or hosting pupil visits. It should be expected that these staff will be disclosure checked.
In most organisations, staff in contact with pupils will vary. Disclosure checking for staff in contact with pupils must therefore be discretionary and must take account of the circumstances of the placement and the nature of supervision. In any case, consideration of any likely requirement for checking should be given well in advance of the placement, and registration of the employee's organisation will be required.