Supporting your child's work placement
Tips for parents/carers/guardians
Before a placement:
- Attend any parents' evenings about the Work Placement Programme
- Acquaint yourself with the purpose of the placement and what your child should expect to gain from it
- Talk to the school about any concerns you may have
- Inform the school if your child has a medical condition, or vulnerability, that could affect the placement
- Sign and return permission paperwork promptly
- Be aware that:
- It may take time for your child to settle into their placement
- Your child may get very tired during their placement - they may need your support
During a placement:
- Support your child to complete the work placement and encourage their enthusiasm
- Encourage your child to think beyond the specific role they are carrying out to help them gain broad insights about what 'work' means for them
- Encourage your child to be positive, even if the placement is not quite as expected
- Speak to the school about any problems during the placement not to the employer
- Call the school and the employer as early as possible if your child is unable to attend
- Encourage your child to complete any logbooks/coursework/surveys
After a placement:
- Support your child to reflect on their experience and any feedback from the employer;
- Encourage your child to use the work placement experience to think more about what they want to do in the future, how they will get there and the skills they will need to get a job
- Take the opportunity to comment, or participate in any surveys related to your child's work placement - as a means of influencing the programme/policy
