RICKMANSWORTH SCHOOL

Transcription

1 RICKMANSWORTH SCHOOL Mr K Douglas, Headteacher 28 th April 2016 Dear Parents and Carers, RE: YEAR 11 WORK EXPERIENCE WEEK: 3 RD 7 TH OCTOBER 2016 As a very important part of our Work Related and Enterprise Learning activities, preparations are now jointly underway with Herts CC Youth Connexions ( HCC ) for our Year 11 Work Experience Week, which will take place at the beginning of October The primary aim of work experience in Year 11 is not future job selection it is to give our young people experience of an adult working environment where they will have to cope with unfamiliar situations and where they may acquire many new skills. We hope that the week will enable the students to: Develop their personal, social and employability skills; Develop their understanding of the world of work, gain some relevant skills and knowledge; Broaden the range of occupations they may consider for the future; Experience some of the challenges of work outside the classroom so that they are able to handle the transition from school to further education and work more comfortably. In recent years the Government has removed the statutory requirement to send all students out on work experience and with it all funding, but has advised schools this does not mean they do not place great importance on such experiences! As a result, many schools have cut work experience from their provision and rely solely on classroom based careers lessons. However, we firmly believe that work experience should continue to form an integral part of the School curriculum here at Rickmansworth. Now, more than ever, our young people need to develop their personal and employability skills, to better prepare them for the increasingly competitive world beyond School be that in further/higher education or in employment. This is a viewpoint supported by the many employers who provide us with work placements. Extensive provision is made for the preparation of students before their placements and later for follow-up discussion to evaluate the experience. As work experience takes place during the normal School term, the students fall under the School s responsibility. As such we are required to ensure that each placement is inspected with regards to health and safety, insurance and the provision of appropriate work. An inspection entails a visit to the employer by a qualified assessor employed by HCC. No studentis permitted out of School on work experience unless these checks have been made. Given the withdrawal of Government funding and increased cost of these checks, we are having to ask parents to make a 35 contribution towards the cost of the assessment of their child s placement (if within Hertfordshire). Students are able to use our online booking system Link2+ to help find placements within the local area. All students will be allocated time in the Resources Rooms on 11 th May and 9 th June to explore the placements on offer and to pick their top 6 choices from a variety of categories of work, which they then place in order of preference. We will also advise them to show you the Link2+ system at home, before confirming their final choices. Whilst it is important for the students to make their own decisions, we would encourage you to discuss their choices with them. Rickmansworth School, Scots Hill, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, WD3 3AQ Telephone Fax: admin@rickmansworth.herts.sch.uk Rickmansworth School Registered in England and Wales Company No

2 Whilst we will endeavour to match all students with one of their 6 preferences, it is impossible to place every student with a placement of their choice in their local vicinity. With this in mind, we would ask you to encourage your child to find their own placement, with your support. Details on how to do this are given overleaf. Private Placements: Given the high demand on the placements offered by HCC, it is possible for students to arrange their own private work experience placements and I would strongly encourage you to consider this option. Students who wish to do so should complete an Employer Health & Safety Declaration Form a copy of this form is attached and will also be available on the School website. You should arrange for this form to be completed by the prospective employer and returned to Mrs Pickford. The completed form will then be sent to HCC and the placement will be visited by an assessor to ensure it is suitable and complies with the insurance, equal opportunities and health & safety criteria. Please note the following when arranging a private placement: Placements must employ five or more people, including the work experience student; Requests will only be accepted if they are within reasonable travelling distance from the School as staff are required to visit each student during work experience; HCC will only accept applications for placements in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and London. HCC has a reciprocal vetting service with these areas. However, if that area s internal caseload is heavy they may not agree to inspect the placement and therefore it will not be approved. The School has no control over this situation and cannot guarantee that placements will automatically be processed. As HCC need adequate time to process these requests, the final date for return of Private Placement Referral Forms will be Friday 27 th May Cost of Work Experience Placements to Parents: 1. Private placements and placements provided by HCC within Hertfordshire Private placements outside Hertfordshire Late submission of private placements (i.e. after 27th May) will incur a penalty charge of 60 (in Herts) 80 (outside Herts) Payment for private placements must be submitted with the Private Placement Form and is not refundable if the placement is visited and found to be unsuitable. All payments, for both private and HCC provided placements is due by 27 th May 2016, can be paid via the School Cashless payment system or via cheque. For those students in receipt of Pupil Premium no payment is required. If, for any reason a private placement is not approved, the student will be informed and an alternative offer will be made from the list of jobs available on Link2+. On 28 th June, all Year 10 will participate in a work experience preparation day. They will be given details of the placement we have matched them with and participate in interview techniques, telephone skills, health & safety and application form/cv building workshops. Please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Pickford in the Careers Department if you have any queries regarding Work Experience Week. In the meantime, thank you for support. Yours sincerely, Mrs L Pickford Careers, Work Related Learning and Enterprise Coordinator Attachments: Work Experience Payment Slip Employer Health & Safety Declaration Form

3 YEAR 11 WORK EXPERIENCE PAYMENT FORM Please return to Bursar s Office by Friday 27th May 2016 STUDENT NAME:... FORM:... I enclose payment as indicated below: 35 For placements within Hertfordshire (both private, and those organised by HCC) 60 For private placements taking place outside Hertfordshire *Please tick against method of payment below: Cheque payment: please make cheques payable to Rickmansworth School and hand in at the Bursars Office Online payment: I am registered for the School internet payment facility and would like to make online payments My address is Pupil Premium: I understand the School is in receipt of Pupil Premium for my son/daughter, and agree that payment for work experience will be made from this fund If the payment is in cash and over 20 a receipt MUST be obtained from the Bursars Office. Thank you.

4 Rickmansworth School - Work Experience Private/Own Placement Request PLEASE COMPLETE IN BLOCK CAPITALS AND PLEASE RETURN TO THE STUDENT/LEARNING PROVIDER STUDENT INFORMATION STUDENT NAME: TUTOR GROUP: YEAR GROUP: 11 AGE: LEARNING PROVIDER: Rickmansworth School WORK EXPERIENCE DATES: 3-7 OCTOBER 2016 COMPANY NAME PLACEMENT ADDRESS: TOWN: POSTCODE: TELEPHONE: WEBSITE: WORK EXPERIENCE JOB TITLE: COMPANY BRIEF JOB DETAILS: CONTACT NAME AGREEING TO PLACEMENT: MOBILE NUMBER: SUPERVISOR: TELEPHONE NUMBER: WORKING HOURS: MEAL ARRANGEMENTS PERSON TO CONTACT IF DIFFERENT: MOBILE NUMBER: CLOTHING ARRANGEMENTS: TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS PRE-PLACEMENT INTERVIEW REQUIRED? YES / NO INTERVIEW NOTES (e.g. what to take etc.) Employers offering Work Experience must agree to undergo a Health & Safety check carried out, on behalf of the learning provider, by Hertfordshire County Council Youth Connexions or an alternative approved agency. The assessment will cover Health & Safety in the workplace, insurance and work content, in accordance with Department of Education & Skills requirements. INSURANCE Employers Liability insurance and Public liability insurance cover are legal requirements for Work Experience. EMPLOYERS LIABILTY INSURANCE: Insurance Provider:.. Policy Number:.... Expiry Date: /.../... PUBLIC LIABILTY INSURANCE: Insurance Provider:.. Policy Number:.... Expiry Date: /.../... CONFIRMATION OF A WORK EXPERIENCE PLACEMENT OFFER FOR THE ABOVE DATES: (This section must be completed/authorised by a company manager or supervisor) AUTHORISED BY: CONTACT S. PRINT NAME:. DATE:. Please return completed form to Liz Pickford, Head of Careers, Rickmansworth School, Scots Hill, Rickmansworth, WD3 3AQ; lpickford@rickmansworth.herts.sch.uk by Friday 27 th May 2016

5 Work Experience Own Placement Choosing an Employer Student/Parent Guide Researching employers and sectors of interest and approaching businesses for an Own Placement is a way of securing a valuable work experience opportunity. Employers need to comply with certain criteria in order to be passed as suitable for work experience but most have the necessary Health & Safety measures in place and this is checked by Youth Connexions. EMPLOYER STUDENT WHAT TO CONSIDER INSURANCE Employers offering work experience must have Insurance both Employers Liability Insurance (ELI) & Public Liability Insurance (PLI). Without insurance they will not be considered suitable for a work experience placement. HEALTH & SAFETY CHECK - Youth Connexions will contact the employer to arrange an appointment to carry out a Health & Safety check prior to your work experience. TRAVEL - Make sure that you can get to employer premises, considering both time needed and the cost involved. Please see link below to the 'Travelline' website this allows you to research your journey to your work experience placement:- WORKING HOURS Remember to check what hours the employer will expect you work. This can be a maximum of 40 hours a week. DRESS CODE Make sure you enquire what the dress code is for your work experience so you know what to wear and to ensure you have/or can provide the correct clothing. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) For certain sectors you may be required to wear PPE to carry out elements of the work you are doing. This is usually supplied by the employer but remember to check if there is a requirement for you to provide Safety Boots or other items. REMEMBER TO GET THE EMPLOYER TO SIGN THE OWN PLACEMENT FORM ENSURING THAT THE CONTACT DETAILS & INSURANCE SECTION ARE COMPLETED. PASS THE COMPLETED FORM BACK TO MRS PICKFORD, CAREERS DEPT, BY FRIDAY 27 TH MAY 2016.