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Quick Start and Essentials for Work Based Learning

The essential guide to offering and supporting Work Based Learning placements.

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HomeWork Based LearningFor Placement ProvidersQuick Start and Essentials

Introduction to Work Based Learning (WBL)

Work Based Learning is an academic module in which students complete a 150-hour minimum unpaid placement between Monday 25th April–Friday 27th May 2022. Placements can be offered as a physical or virtual work-based learning experience.

Placement requirements

All placements are approved by the Work Based Learning team and we check that insurances, health & safety considerations and risk assessments are in place. We provide the students with a Placement Objectives Document to guide their discussions with you around the specific role including tasks, responsibilities and development of their employability skills.

"This has been a very positive experience for us and we are keen to repeat this next year."

— Passion for Learning

The student will require a supervisor or mentor who is willing to support and manage them throughout the placement.

  • At the start of placement, the supervisor should take the student through a staff induction and towards the end of placement, meet with the student (in person or remotely) to complete an appraisal.
  • The student will also need to complete a verfied timesheet. This is a compulsory component of the module as it confirms that the student has undertaken the required minimum 150 hours in placement.

Four Stages...

  1. Two ways to offer a placement

    Direct to the student

    When you offer a placement directly to a student, they will provide the Work Based Learning team with your details as their named placement provider. Work Based Learning will then send you a confirmation email with links to the Health & Safety Form and Placement Provider Guide. The placement should meet the requirements of the module and we will contact you if there are any queries.

    Direct to the University

    When you offer a placement directly to the University, you are asked to complete a Placement Offer Form. We advertise the opportunity to students and the Placement Coordinators perform a shortlisting exercise to match the most suitable student/s on your behalf. Once a suitable student has been shortlisted, we will ask the student to contact you directly to arrange an interview and discuss the placement in more detail.

  2. Pre-placement checks

    * Conduct an interview with the student (in person or remotely)
    * Take a look at the Placement Objectives Document with the student
    * Discuss the role, dress code, working days and hours, travel etc.
    * Highlight any necessary vaccinations or DBS requirements
    * Discuss any reasonable adjustments that may be required

  3. Conduct a placement induction

    Prior to the placement, students will attend a University-based induction programme to receive guidance on how to get the most from the placement.

    During the first few days of the placement, please carry out your own workplace induction relevant to the type of placement offered. This may include a tour of facilities, introductions to colleagues, health & safety procedures, fire safety procedures, remote working policies and absence reporting.

    It may be worthwhile reaffirming objectives for the placement, e.g. what you expect from the student, any skills they already have and how they can maximise the benefits of the experience you are offering them. This would also be a good time to schedule the appraisal and any other progress meetings or supervisory sessions that you require. The student is responsible for keeping a record of attendance and the timesheet should be agreed and signed off by you at the end of the placement period.

  4. End of placement checks

    * Complete the appraisal and finalise timesheet
    * Ensure all resources have been returned by the student
    * Complete feedback on the placement
    * Consider providing a case study for WBL (template provided)