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Original poster

Work Experience-family frowned upon?

25 replies

Sparklingbrook · 04/10/2013 09:19

DS1 is in Year 10, and just been given the letter to sort out his work experience. I am yet to read the small print.

My DB has said he will have DS1 for the week-is that frowned upon? Plus it's 100 miles away.

presumably DB will have to report back to the school at the end of it?

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 04/10/2013 09:20

Why would it be frowned upon? Sounds good to me!

Original poster
Sparklingbrook · 04/10/2013 09:25

Well I think so expat but I thought they were supposed to be writing their own letters to companies, not having a chat on the phone with their Uncle. Grin

Also school may think it's an easy ride as it's family. DB has just sent me the list of things DS would be doing. That is not the case. Shock

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QuintessentialShadows · 04/10/2013 09:31

Why dont you let him research some other companies/organizations and approach them, and fall back on your uncle if he has no luck?
That way he has a job to go to, but has had the experience of looking for, and securing work?

And who knows, maybe he will find it interesting volunteering for a charity, or work elsewhere for a the duration.

------

(Back in Yonks I had such magnificent sense of achievement from walking from shop to shop asking (like we were asked to) and actually securing a placement in the COOLEST record shop in town where all the interesting geek boys/young men came for their rather alternative/sophisticated music, most of it on special order. Wink (Thanks for allowing me to reminisce!) )

Original poster
Sparklingbrook · 04/10/2013 09:36

That's a good idea Quint, I will have a chat with him. I don't want him to have it easy IYKWIM.

That was a very cool work experience. I did mine at a Pre-School. Then got a job in a Bank. Grin

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 04/10/2013 09:38

Loads of kids do their work experience with family. Schools don't care so long as they have the right insurance.

Kez100 · 04/10/2013 09:40

The best thing about WE for my son was the positive response he got after quite a few rejections (because many TV/radio stations/video companies now only take 16 or 18+). The sense of personal achievement from that process was immense. Then, the actual experience itself was really rewarding because it was a place he wanted to go and the work he did was enjoyable and cool!

Having said that, my daughter had to do two weeks when she did hers and struggled to find week 2. She approached a local friend to work in their shop for that week.

So, I know what it is like at this stage for you and can understand why you have spoken to your DB about it. However, I agree with the others that say use him as a fall back. Up to Christmas let your son try and secure his own and, if possible, within travelling distance because that gives them another real world experience (if he doesn't get it already with his school travel). Maybe if he gets no where with a couple of months to go, use your DB.

Original poster
Sparklingbrook · 04/10/2013 09:41

DB said he would have to write to the school and confirm the insurance situation and that he doesn't keep live bears in the office etc.

OP posts:
QuintessentialShadows · 04/10/2013 10:05

How odd, where does he keep his bears then?

Original poster
Sparklingbrook · 04/10/2013 10:10
Grin
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senua · 04/10/2013 10:50

There is supposed to be some liaison between school and placement. ?If done properly, they do a site visit not just paperwork? Tricky if the placement is 100 miles away.
It might help if DS persuades the school that it is something he really wants to do, rather than something that landed in his lap.

Original poster
Sparklingbrook · 04/10/2013 10:52

I will check on that senua, thanks for flagging that up. Fortunately DB is in the line of business DS1 is interested in. Well as much as a 14 year old can be-he's not 15 until the summer and seems young to be doing this....

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BackforGood · 04/10/2013 10:57

Does depend on the school - a lot will say they need to visit and to check the premises / placement. Others will be glad that the pupil has arranged something without them having to nag. I have a friend whose son went up to London to work in the City, (through family contacts) and the school just said - 'wow, what a fab opportunity, we've never had that chance before' but then another Yr10 was stopped from working in an office in the local City (it was in marketing, so hardly filled with loads of dangerous equipment) because the school hadn't 'elf and safety checked it first.

MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 04/10/2013 11:21

My sister arranged work experience for DS1 this year without him even asking - she offered most enthusiastically! He wants to go into Engineering, and she's a Project Manager with lots of helpful Engineers willing to escort my 15yo around all sorts of odd places... DSs school didn't ask to do a site visit (wouldn't have worked anyway - he was out-and-about to a number of places) but there were a few letters exchanged, mainly I think to confirm it was all genuine and not DS1 skiving for a week! Grin

I can't see how anyone can have an issue with a relative helping out like this if that relative in in a field the child is actually interested in.

NoComet · 04/10/2013 11:24

Given the number of DCs still without confirmed placements at DDs school the careers dept. will be delighted to have one less person tho worry about.

many places don't seem very keen to help this year, DD got given a right runaround.

Original poster
Sparklingbrook · 04/10/2013 11:25

There is a stipulation he can't leave the UK. Hmm

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Moominmammacat · 04/10/2013 11:41

MY DSs did it with me and had a great time. We had to pay for the privilege of being registered with school. Their idea of a risk assessment was to ring up and say "are you risky?" and I said no and that was that. Cost £35 though.

Original poster
Sparklingbrook · 04/10/2013 11:43

Shock moomin

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teacherandguideleader · 05/10/2013 21:54

I can't imagine they will mind. Work experience is a compulsory part of my course and they have to write a letter for it - I just made sure they put Dear Mr..... rather than Dear Unc...

A few of our kids were miles away because they were with family - the only difference was that they didn't have a member of school staff visit them during the week.

Original poster
Sparklingbrook · 05/10/2013 22:01

Thanks teacher. If he does go to his Uncles he will have to live with him for a week so that will be a good exercise in self organisation.

OP posts:
5madthings · 05/10/2013 22:04

The letter we got recommended not to do it with family and also our risk assessment this by has to be done by a certain organization so they are not allowed to go out of our county for their work experience.

Original poster
Sparklingbrook · 05/10/2013 22:06

From what I can gather in county for school organised Work Experience, anywhere but not outside UK for sorting out your own.

Can't find any mention of family as yet.....

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basildonbond · 06/10/2013 07:32

Ds1 wasn't allowed to have a placement with family members and it had to be within the M25 (we're in London) as the careers dept needed to do a site visit so you may find it's a no-go on more than one front

webwiz · 06/10/2013 12:42

DD1 and DS did work experience organised through school and DD2 worked with DH as its a career she is considering. We paid a fee for doing an out of county placement for DD2 and the risk assessment firm phoned up where DH worked and discussed it with them. He does work for a large UK firm and is office based so it wasn't a problem.

Out of the three of them only DD2 had a decent experience because DH made sure she was on a real project and managed to do some actual work. DS did get a tenner for washing the van when the shop he was working in was quiet which was the highlight of his week!

Original poster
Sparklingbrook · 06/10/2013 12:48

If he does his with his Uncle web,at least he won't be making tea/taken advantage of for 5 days. That's a positive.

DB has explained exactly what he will be doing sounds very responsible and a bit terrifying.

I need to speak to the school-it's not til February.

OP posts:
Bemused33 · 06/10/2013 16:27

My husband has had so many family members for work experience I have lost count.

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