Work Experience Service Offer
Service Details
Key Benefits
Workplace Health and Safety Assessments: All placements undergo thorough health and safety checks of each workplace conducted in person on behalf of the school, ensuring that students are safe on placement, and fulfilling schools’ compliance and safeguarding responsibilities.
Ongoing Coordinator Support: Work experience coordinators receive continuous support via meetings in person or on MS team meetings, email and phone, including access to guidance materials, resources and essential documentation through the work experience database.
Safeguarding and Statutory Compliance: Dedicated in person support is provided to help schools meet their statutory responsibilities for keeping young people safe during placements. This includes the management, investigation, and reporting of any accidents or incidents that occur during work experience.
Employer contacts: Schools and coordinators benefit from a secure, online database of employers across East Sussex, helping match students with suitable placement opportunities.
Online Agreement Forms for Students and Parents: Student and parent agreement forms are securely accessible through the online database via any standard web browser, ensuring easy and flexible completion from any device. This streamlined process supports efficient administration and enhances accessibility for families.
Structured system for capturing feedback: Student and Employer Logbook available on-line for both parties to record progress, reflections, and feedback throughout the placement. As well an online survey for students to gather their overall experience and insights after the placement.
Support for WEX Assemblies and Parent Information Evenings and Resources: The WEX team are available to support or lead assemblies and parent information events to help raise awareness, improve student engagement, and ensure consistent messaging about meaningful work experience. This will include how to use the online system for placement selection and how to access the Work Experience log book to record skills and experiences.
The service is structured around three levels of support:
Wex-1 Work Experience: Health and Safety Assessment and Support
Aimed at those schools who have staffing in place to be able to manage the work experience process and are provided support by the Wex team to manage. This includes access to a database of employers who potentially could offer work experience placements and is also used by the schools to keep a record of work experience placements. The Wex team will undertake Health and Safety checks on employers on behalf of the schools and provide support via one to one training, phone calls and a dedicated e-mail.
Wex-2 Work Experience: Matched Placement Service
Aimed at those schools who would like to offer work experience but do not have the staffing capacity to do so. The Wex Team takes on the role of the school and arranges placements for students who have chosen placements from aspire or who have found their own placement. The school still has responsibility for certain administrative tasks although the bulk of this is removed through the Wex team arranging the placements.
Wex-3 Work Experience: Bespoke Matched Placement Service for vulnerable learners
A more intensive service aimed at those students who need extra support, are disadvantaged or have additional needs. The Wex team will meet with the student to discuss their career aspirations and interests, in conjunction with a named member of school staff, and also communicate with parents/carers.
The Wex team will source an opportunity that matches the student’s interest or develops transferable skills, arrange a pre-visit and ensure the student is prepared for the placement. They can be met on their first day of placement to help with settling in if needed.
The Wex team will complete the required paperwork with the employer and parent/carer/student, undertake daily attendance checks, undertake a monitoring visit and a post Wex discussion with the student.
Testimonials
"Every individual is very helpful and the Team is a 'well oiled engine' that support each other well" - The Turing School
"The team are brilliant - they are always there at the end of the phone or an email to provide support" - King's Academy Ringmer
"The team are all very helpful and responded quickly to any queries. They work very hard to ensure that everything runs smoothly." - St Catherine's College
If you would be interested in finding out more about the Work Experience service, please email workexperience@eastsussex.gov.uk or visit the Services 2 Schools website.