HASTINGS HIGH SCHOOL
January 2017
STUDENT ARRANGED WORK EXPERIENCE PLACEMENT
Dear Employer
The student bearing this letter attends Hastings High School and is seeking a work experience placement within your company or organization.
Work experience is an invaluable part of our students’ education, enabling them to develop new skills and to experience the world of work. It is also an important opportunity for companies to make a contribution to the local community and create a positive image for their business and their industry.
If you can offer a work placement to this student for a period of one week with no financial payment to the student, we would be most grateful if you would read the ‘Information for Employers’ section and complete the ‘Employers’ part of the work experience application form, which should accompany this letter.
Please be aware that it is a legal requirement of all employers and sole traders who take students on work experience that there is current Public Liability Insurance and Employer Liability Insurance in place and those students (who will be classed as employees for Health & Safety and Insurance purposes) are covered by this insurance.
New employers will be required to provide evidence of Public Liability Insurance and Employer Liability Insurance when the initial visit takes place by our Employer Assessor.
Employers are reminded that it is your responsibility to discuss/interview the student prior to the placement and amend if necessary your company’s ‘Risk Assessment’
May I take this opportunity to thank you in advance for your support, if you have any queries prior to the placement please don’t hesitate to contact me at (mark it as FAO Work experience).
Yours faithfully
Mr N Goforth
Headteacher
WORK EXPERIENCE INFORMATION FOR EMPLOYERS
Students on work experience gain a valuable insight into life beyond the classroom which helps them to prepare for life at work after they have left school
AIMS
To learn about the world of work
To develop new skills
To experience working with adults
To become more aware of employer requirements
To improve communication skills.
THE PLACEMENT
A successful work experience requires:
A short visit/interview prior to the placement during which the student can also be informed of any relevant risks and control measures.
Meaningful and supervised work.
A work environment which satisfies health & safety requirements and the provision of protective clothing/equipment when necessary.
That the student is not asked to undertake physically dangerous work or to operate dangerous machinery.
That employee’s relationships with students should be appropriate to their age and gender and not give rise to comment or speculation.
On the first day - A health & safety induction including fire drill and machinery/equipment operation.
On the last day - Debriefing/completion of the ‘Employer Report Form’ in the student’s log book.
SOME STUDENT COMMENTS
I was accepted as an equal and given worthwhile things to do. It has helped me to make a decision about my career.
Everyone was very friendly and I was pleased with how it went but I found the hours long and tiring.
I learnt that there are various qualifications needed for the job and the importance of some school subjects.
I improved by communication skills and became a lot more confident.
I was offered a Saturday job.
I enjoyed my placement and learned lots of new skills. My boss was pleased and said that I would go far!
The best thing was . . .
… meeting new people and learning about the Company.
The worst thing was . . .
… having to leave and not being able to work there for ever!
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