The document is a guide from Wilson Stuart School offering work placements to students ages 19-25 who have special education needs or disabilities. It provides information for potential employers on what is involved in offering a work placement. Key points include that the school will provide support for both the student and employer during the placement. Placements can last 6 weeks or more and are meant to help students develop skills, not necessarily lead to jobs. Employers benefit from increased diversity and the opportunity to mentor students.

1. ACCREDITED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM
for employers
TO A STUDENT
Wilson Stuart School
OFFERING
a work placement
FROM
A GUIDE
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2. Our students have special educational
needs and disabilities and, for those
aged 19 – 25 years, one of the best
ways for them to learn new skills,
meet new people and improve their
ability to live an independent life is to
experience a work placement with an employer.
In return, one of the best things that employers say is how much
their staff enjoy and appreciate the opportunity to spend time with a
student, guiding them and watching them grow in confidence as they
embark on their journey into the world of work.
Wilson Stuart School has partnered with University College Birmingham
to offer a vocational education programme with qualifications, part of
which involves students completing a work placement.
We already have many fantastic employers on board and now,
as more students join us, we need to find additional willing
businesses and organisations to offer work placement opportunities.
This guide outlines what is involved for you as an employer if you offer
a placement and highlights the support you can expect from us.
We are very proud of our students and everything they have
achieved so far and I hope that you can work with us too to
help them make informed choices about their future careers.
Thanks again for your time and interest.
Steve Hughes
Head Teacher
It provides potential
supervisory or
mentoring opportunities
for employees
Their staff are given
free disability awareness
training by Wilson
Stuart School
It helps to increase the
diversity of the workforce
and better reflect their
customers and society
It helps their business
to achieve equality
and diversity targets
Their competitors
are already doing it!
Wilson Stuart School
WELCOME TO
your interest
and THANK YOU
FOR
why employers
say they offer
work experience
placements to
our students:
HOW
If you are interested in offering a work placement to
a student the first thing we will do is come and meet
you and talk you through:
How placements work
What support you can expect from us
What we ask you to consider as an employer
What we need to do in relation to our standard
risk assessment procedure
Naturally, you will have questions to ask and possibly
have concerns about offering a student with a disability
a placement because it is not something you have
experienced before.
Don’t worry. We are here to work with you.
Interestingly, employers often state that another
principal reason they decide to offer a student a work
placement is because:
A tutor will be with the student every working day,
until such time the employer and student together
feel confident they can be independent and cope
on their own.
This doesn’t mean that you have to find things for
the tutor to do as well. They will simply be there
to offer support and guidance as the student settles
in and learns new skills whilst doing the work that
you give them.
Will I have to make extensive adjustments
to the workplace to accept a student
on placement?
No, not necessarily. It depends on the individual
students’ disability and the work you want them to
do as to whether any special provision has to be
made. It is not our intention to ‘check you out’ then
demand that changes need to take place. We aim
for a mutual agreement on what is and what isn’t
possible for the student on placement and what
you can provide or add/alter to accommodate
them. From our experience, in most cases very
few changes to the workplace are needed.
Will the student expect to be given job
at the end of the placement?
No, not at all. Work placements are simply an
opportunity to help students develop their skills
and confidence and guide them into independent
living and the world of work. They appreciate that
if there is a future job vacancy at your business, or
anywhere else, they will need to apply for the role
in the normal way. No one, especially the student,
expects any special treatment.
How long are the placements and do
we need to pay the students a wage?
Placements can be anything from 6 weeks or
more and no wages are required.
Will they be able to get to work each day?
We will be responsible for ensuring the student
travels safely to and from work.
How prepared will the student be?
Wilson Stuart students are well prepared and
committed to doing their best. Before starting
the placement, they are given lots of advice and
guidance on what to expect when in the workplace
and how they will be expected to behave. They will
certainly know the importance of being punctual
and to respect those they work with.
it works
often ask these
EMPLOYERS
QUESTIONS
FIVE KEY
REASONS and
BENEFITS
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3. I worked in the
office administration
department scanning
important data
and processing
spreadsheets. I also
helped to meet and
greet visitors in
reception and answer
the phone. I loved it
at Mondelez, all the
staff are really nice and
helpful and I learnt a lot.
It’s an absolute pleasure
working with the
students from Wilson
Stuart. They are all
keen to learn and
every member of staff
each student has come
into contact with has
commented on their
polite, helpful and happy
attitude. The students
seem to really enjoy
themselves and we
certainly enjoy having
them here with us.
next stage…
THE
If you would like to offer a work placement,
please do contact us.
Here are the team’s contact details:
Wilson Stuart School, Perry Common Road, Erdington, Birmingham B23 7AT
Student, on placement
at Mondelez International
Renuka
Centre Administrator,
One Stop Shopping Centre
Rachel Slade
Kim Everton
Assistant Head Teacher
(16 - 25)
Julie Pallister
Work Placement
Co-ordinator
I am thrilled with the success of
our programme and the work
experience opportunities our
students are enjoying. As provision
grows, we need more employers
to offer meaningful work
placements and I look forward to exploring further how
we can work together with businesses and organisations
to provide employees who are well matched and capable
of ultimately gaining full or part time employment.
e: k.everton@wilsonst.bham.sch.uk
t: 0121 373 4475 ext.105
An important element of my
role is to help employers gain
the confidence to offer work
placements to young adults with
special educational needs and
disabilities. I ensure that they know
support for the student and for them is key to the success of
the programme and I look forward to building further, lasting
relationships with employers in the local area.
e: j.pallister@wilsonst.bham.sch.uk
t: 0121 373 4475 ext. 243
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