Will I make ds look stupid if I call his work experience placement myself

[Sweatingcobbles]

Ds will shortly go on work experience.

In my day school gave us a list of pre approved places. We applied and the company chose who they wanted and school sorted the rest of the details.

Ds (who has SN) had to find the placement himself with out support of any kind which I believe is now the norm and I kind of get why. I helped and we got somewhere. We then submitted the form to school.

We have had no confirmation it has been sorted despite chasing. Ds didn't realise that he had to sort the hours he worked and such too he had presumed school would do that part but been told he should have sorted.

The placement said they would get in touch with ds when the school had confirmed but haven't.

We've heard nothing. Ds is panicking about it anyway as it is tough for him socially never mind not knowing any details of what is happening.

Ds won't be home from school in time to phone them.

Wib massively unreasonable to ring the placement to confirm the hours given his sen or will it make him look stupid.

[Sweatingcobbles]

I'm always trying to encourage him to go to the counter in shops and order food in McDonald's and have a real battle on my hands so I'm hoping this enforced social interaction has a positive effect!

[Syc4moreTrees]

I don't know that there are many jobs that don't require face to face interaction at some point, but maybe they have misunderstood his needs. Maybe he will surprise you by flourishing though :D

[Sweatingcobbles]

Thank you all
All sorted now.

Just found out that they are putting ds who can't talk to people he knows on the phone never mind strangers and struggles with writing and processing on reception so that could be interesting

[Allthebestnamesareused]

Yes - I would ring myself and just say that his school day is such that he can't ring himself but can they confirm x,y,z details.

[Sweatingcobbles]

Yes he has sorted it all out himself. He found somewhere he would like to go, he contacted them himself by email and arranged the dates and such with them. He then filled out the form with all the details months and months ago.

It was put in the diary by the placement people who said they would contact him when school got in touch. School didn't sort doing anything good about it until recently as far as I know.

We were waiting for contact. He was told several times that it was being sorted and letters would come home soon.

Nothing

[Sunnyshores]

My readng is that DS has already sorted his work placement out - a few details now urgently need agreeing. So he's not left it all to his mum.

The work placement needs to be understanding of his SEN . So, if they cant even accept you calling to sort out a few logistics (because he is busy at school), then Id suggest this wont be your only problem with the placement.

[Syc4moreTrees]

It may be a good little challenge for him and something to accomplish in the lead up to the work experience, as if he has difficulty talking with people the work experience will probably also be very hard for him. It might be a good confidence boost if he can do this

[caffeinestream]

Just ring them, and say he can't do it himself because he's at school.

[weeblueberry]

I'd highlight that you're calling because of the logistics of him not being able to do it himself and they should understand that I'd think.

Good luck to him.

[agnesf]

I would call them. If something has not worked its going to be hard for him to sort out himself and then he could end up with no work experience placement at all or something rubbish that he doesn't want to do.

[Sweatingcobbles]

He struggles talking to people he knows on the phone so would find it very very hard.
He has emailed but no reply yet.

He is in school from 9 till 4.30 (free school) and the place is open 9 till 3. He also has a fairly long bus journey.

If they haven't replied by lunch he's going to have to ring them at school.

[Syc4moreTrees]

I think it would be better for him to call, maybe after school on his way home, most businesses don't keep school hours.

I have been contacted before by parents arranging experience for sixth form students and even graduates...I generally don't give placements to kids who don't show the initiative to contact me themselves.

With your son you can probably judge how much his SN affect his ability to arrange things, if it's just that he is at school and the timing of the call is tricky then i would urge you to help him find time to make the call, or maybe contact them by email if that would be easier.

[chloesmumtoo]

My dd was really anxious about phoning her placement initially so popped there instead and found that a lot better in person. She also chose to email them when they didn't get back to her which they really liked as she told them a little more about herself at the same time. Maybe you could get your ds to email them?

[TellMeItsNotTrue]

My mum called for me because I hate using the phone, and the woman who answered refused to speak to her and gave her a lecture about the whole point of this was that the child should sort it all themselves. I then had to call back and sort it myself and it was even harder knowing what had just happened, although she didn't mention it and was fine with me.

I did everything else myself but I really struggle with the phone so mum just called to make an appointment for me to speak to them

So based on my experience I would say it would be better for him to call, as it was harder for me to call back than it would have been to call in the first place

[chloesmumtoo]

Dd had to find somewhere for work experience and once the placement accepted she had to fill in a mini form stating placement, contact details and the occupation ect. This then had to be handed to school early on for school to contact the work placement with a more detailed form which twos and fros adding info until it is finally signed by student, workplace and school. This form contained the formalities, the hours and health and safety advice ect. Dd did not have to do anything other than inform school initially and sign the finished form finalised by all parties at the end.

[toooldforthisshirt37]

Hi I arrange work expeirence in my work place and regularly deal with the parents. They won't think he is stupid for letting you make the call, it only makes sense to sort it out.

Good luck for his placement, I hope he gets a lot out of it.

[Sweatingcobbles]

Thanks all

[Redsippycup]

Phone them, and i agree to just say that he's at school during their opening hours so can't ring himself.

[Jupitar]

Phone them, my daughter managed to sort hers out but if she'd had any problems I would of helped her out.

It's work placement for someone who is still at school, it's not a job interview. Hope it's sorted okay

[BillSykesDog]

YANBU. Explain he won't be home in time to call, it'll be fine.

[tigerdriverII]

Is he Yr 10? I'd sort it for him. DS is doing work experience in London (we live in the Cotswolds). There are quite a few logistical issues- like sorting out his pre-experience interview which are going to beyond his skills or maybe experience to sort out.

[7461Mary18]

Absolutely fine. Just call them.