Extended Work Experience &
Alternative
Provision
UK Work Placement Ltd. provides structured extended work and vocational placements for students aged between 14-16 years, who are struggling to engage in mainstream education, are at risk of suspension or permanent exclusion.
Placements are between 1-3 days per week, term-time only, across a term of 13 weeks. Placements can be extended for further 13 week blocks.
Our approved host companies are local to you, and are keen to provide supervised, supported vocational placements to their potential future workforce.
Who is this for?
Empowering students through extended work placements
OUR PROVISION PATHWAYS
Tailored Placements, Meeting Standards & Certification
WHO BENEFITS?
Real Solutions for Students, Schools, and Employers
For Students
- Improves engagement with education.
- Improves attendance &routine.
- Increases motivation, confidence & self-esteem.
- Helps develop a positive attitude and a responsible approach to working life.
- Provides the opportunity to learn, develop and practice key skills.
- Develops an understanding of the world of work and post-16 aspirations.
- Improves CV and student employability.
For School
- Encourages students on work placement to realise the importance of education.
- Schools can use work placements to encourage students to re-engage with lessons and education.
- Helps students realise the importance of transferable skills required in employment, which positively impacts their school experience.
For Host Companies
- Make a visible contribution to the local community.
- Opportunity to informally assess students as potential future employees, thus reducing recruitment costs.
- Provides a ‘fresh eyes’ approach to the business.
- Opportunity to develop recruitment channels through links with pre/post 16 educational establishments.
What you can expect from UKWP
We work collaboratively with schools, pastoral teams, SENCOs & inclusion staff to ensure placements are supportive, purposeful & outcome based.
Contact Us-
Clear referral & on-boarding process
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Safeguarding-aware staff & placement environments
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All host companies are risk assessed, and Health & Safety checks are completed
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Attendance monitoring via our bespoke portal
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Structured expectations & routines for pupils
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Progress updates & communication
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ASDAN certified Lifeskills Challenge Certification and/or Employability Skills Development Certification
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Professional boundaries & supervision within placements
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything You Need to Know About Our Provision
What does Alternative Provision at UK Work Placement include?
UK Work Placement Ltd. provide bespoke programmes to meet the educational needs of students who are on the school roll, but are at risk of disengagement and/or exclusion, have poor attendance, are presenting with behavioural issues, SEND, learners with an EHCP, those requiring additional support.
Our programmes support pupils who are disengaged from mainstream education to reengage with their school studies, by developing their vocational skills. Our tailor-made packages encourage reintegration into mainstream education, improve attendance and behaviour, help prepare learners for life post-16, and overall improve the prospects of learners.
Learners remain registered with their school while undertaking a vocational experience organised & managed by UKWP Ltd.
Our structured 14-19 programme is a quality-assured approach to delivering meaningful work-based learning opportunities to young people, in the form of extended vocational experiences in local companies. UKWP Ltd. aims to advance prospects for learners with diverse needs and those facing barriers to success.
UKWP Ltd. offers programmes as 13 school-week blocks, which can be extended up to the full academic year, according to individual learner needs. The initial 13-week programme may be sufficient for certain learners to reengage with their studies and encourage reintegration into mainstream education.
A learning week would be structured as below:
1-3 days per week on vocational experience (up to 15hours) with the remaining days (1-3 days) in school following the school’s curriculum.
ASDAN recognition would be incorporated into the vocational experience days.
This structure is for school weeks only. Learners will maintain school term and holiday dates.
Our programme integrates preparation, employer engagement, monitoring of progress & attendance. UKWP Ltd. utilises the services of the awarding organisation ASDAN to assess learners’ functional skills, and to recognise learners’ progress in curriculum areas that are essential for success in adult life. Learners are assessed from pre-Entry upto Level 3 on ASDAN courses: Employability Skills Development & Lifeskills Challenge. Topics cover 12 areas: self-managements, team working, business & enterprise, customer awareness, problem-solving, communication, working with numbers, IT in the workplace, applying for a job, exploring job opportunities, rights & responsibilities at work, health & safety in the workplace.
Our feedback to schools ensures that vocational experiences contribute to measurable outcomes and are meeting the aims of the programme.
Additionally, UKWP Ltd. offers support to learners in CV writing, interview preparation & sourcing courses for further study & skills development.
‘Vocational experience’ may also be referred to as ‘work experience’ or ‘work placement’.
What are the Expected Student Outcomes?
The primary objective of an extended work placement is to provide young people with a positive, structured experience of the workplace that supports re-engagement with learning and prepares them for their next stage of education, training or employment.
Expected outcomes include:
- Improved attendance & engagement
Students develop more consistent attendance and punctuality and become increasingly engaged with a structured daily routine. The workplace environment can provide a practical alternative for learners who have found traditional classroom-based education challenging.
- Improved confidence & self-esteem
Students develop greater confidence in their own abilities and begin to recognise their strengths, skills and potential. Successfully completing workplace tasks and receiving positive feedback can help rebuild self-belief.
- Development of workplace behaviours
Students develop an understanding of the behaviours and expectations required in employment, including punctuality, reliability, appropriate communication, following instructions, professional conduct and taking responsibility for their actions.
- Improved social and communication skills
Students develop their ability to communicate appropriately with colleagues, supervisors, customers and other adults in a professional environment. They learn to work as part of a team and manage workplace relationships.
- Increased independence and responsibility
Students become more capable of managing their own routines, travelling to a placement, completing tasks independently and taking responsibility for their commitments.
- Development of employability skills
Students develop transferable skills including teamwork, problem-solving, organisation, time management, adaptability, resilience and effective communication.
- Improved resilience and ability to manage challenges
Students learn how to respond appropriately when tasks are difficult, when they make mistakes or when they encounter unfamiliar situations. They are supported to develop strategies for managing setbacks and accepting constructive feedback.
- Greater understanding of the world of work
Students gain a realistic understanding of workplace expectations and the responsibilities associated with employment. They develop an awareness of different occupations and the skills and qualifications required for particular career pathways.
- Positive relationships with adults
The placement provides opportunities for students to establish positive relationships with employers, supervisors and other adults outside the education environment. These relationships can provide positive role models and reinforce appropriate behaviours.
- Increased motivation to learn
Practical experience can help students understand the relevance of education and qualifications to their future aspirations. Where appropriate, the placement can increase motivation to participate in education, vocational training or employment.
- Clearer career aspirations and progression planning
Students are encouraged to reflect on their experience and identify areas of interest, strengths and potential career pathways. This can inform subsequent choices around further education, college courses, apprenticeships, vocational training or employment.
- Successful transition to the next stage
The ultimate outcome is for the students to be better prepared for their next destination. Depending on the individual earner, this may include successful reintegration into education, progression into a vocational programme, apprenticeship, further work experience or employment.
Where is UK Work Placement located?
Our offices are located in the commercial centre of Preston in Lancashire. But we have been operating nationally, throughout the UK for 15 years. In this time we have built up a network of quality-assured companies who are keen to provide meaningful and valuable vocational work experience to young people.