Sample information letter for parents (block) 
             Dear Parent/Carer, 
             I am writing to inform you that all students in Year 10/11 will undertake 5/10 days work experience 
             during the week beginning Monday insert date. Work experience aims to provide all young people 
             with an opportunity to: 
                    obtain a wider awareness of the world of work as part of their general education 
                    learn outside the classroom 
                    increase their economic understanding 
                    relate their studies to the world of work and training. 
             The students will be using a website called aspire, in order to choose their work experience 
             placements. Training in the use of aspire will be given in school, after which they will be given an 
             individual password. Students can access aspire from anywhere, including home (*Aspire will only 
             function correctly using Internet Explorer as the browser) and the website address is: 
             https://aspire.eastsussex-brighton.org.uk/wexpupilchoiceslogin.aspx?aspirenetview=student
              
             They will be asked to choose Insert work placements . Staff will then use these to match up the 
             students with available places. Students can find their own placements if they wish, after a short 
             discussion with the work experience co-ordinator. Students may complete an application form and will 
             need to contact the employer to arrange a preliminary visit to discuss the arrangements for the 
             placement. At the end of the week the employer is asked to complete a short report on the student’s 
             progress. 
             Students will participate in an in depth preparation programme (covering for example, topics such as 
             health and safety, child protection and employer expectations) prior to their placement. In addition, you
             will receive a parental agreement form detailing the risk assessment for the placement. This must be 
             signed and returned before the placement begins. As part of this preparation and of continuing child 
             protection, please encourage your son/daughter to discuss their placement, and the risk assessment, 
             with you. If you feel that any issue raised during these discussions may need to be followed up by the 
             school, please do not hesitate to contact me. On their return to school/college, they will take part in a 
             structured debrief and follow-up programme to enable them to apply their work related learning within 
             their school/college courses. 
             Please encourage your son/daughter to prepare for their future, by using and relating their 
             experiences in the world of work to their classroom studies. Also please do not hesitate to contact me 
             if you have any questions. 
             Please inform the school of any issues relating to your child (medical, behavioural, legal or 
             otherwise) that you think may affect the employer’s willingness to you’re your child for work 
             experience. Permission will always be sought before such information is shared, but please 
             note that a placement cannot go ahead if permission is not received. 
             Yours sincerely, 
         Sample information letter for parents (extended) 
         Dear insert parent name, 
          Re: The alternative curriculum at Key Stage 4 for   insert name  
         Following our meeting, I enclose a copy of the arrangements for insert name that we agreed. 
         The complete programme will start on insert date and will run until insert date, however insert name
         will not be able to start his/her work placement until it has been approved by East Sussex County 
         Council. 
         Please check that you understand all of the arrangements and sign, date and return one copy to me at
         the school. You may keep the second copy for your reference. The arrangements have been made in 
         consultation with the following people: Insert names here. 
         Summary of programme (example):
         Days      Programme        Practical Arrangements              Person/s 
                                                                        responsible
         Mon       Work Placement 
         Tues      Normal Timetable 
         Wed       Normal timetable 
         Thurs     College Day 
         Fri       Periods 1 – 4 only 
         General Information: 
         We have agreed: 
                 that independent travelling will help insert name gain confidence and that he/she will use 
                  local bus services.
                 he/she may leave the work experience and college premises at lunch times as he/she 
                  would normally do at school. 
         Insert name has agreed that he/she will: 
                 attend the full programme each day of the week 
                 notify the school and the college if he/she is ill or unable to attend for another reason 
                 keep to the behaviour and safe working practices of all the sites he/she attends 
                 be liable to withdrawal from the programme if he/she does not comply with the above 
                  conditions. 
         I have read and understood the programme for me and agree to the arrangements made. 
         Signed……………………………………………………………………….Student 
         Date…………………………………………………………………………. 
         I/We have read and understood the programme for my son/daughter and agree to the arrangements 
         made. 
         Signed……………………………………………………………………… Parent/Career 
         Date………………………………………………………………………… 
         Yours sincerely,
      Sample confirmation of placement letter for employers 
      Date 
      Dear Employer, 
                        WORK EXPERIENCE 
      Thank you for agreeing to accept a student for work experience this year/insert date. 
      I can now confirm that insert name will be spending the week/insert date with you. You will shortly 
      receive an application form from him/her. He/she will then telephone to arrange a preliminary visit. 
      This will give you the opportunity to meet the student and for the student to discuss the arrangements 
      for the placement.
      You may also be contacted by East Sussex County Council to arrange a visit to discuss the health and
      safety of young people on work experience. 
      On the first day the student will give you an employer’s report for completion at the end of the 
      placement/periodically. It would be helpful if the report could be completed in consultation with the 
      student. Any information you are able to give in this report will be invaluable, providing an additional 
      view of the student, which can be used in the compilation of their Progress File. This report is returned
      to school/college via the student or by post. 
      I would like to take this opportunity to thank you again for supporting the work experience programme. 
      Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any more information. 
      Yours sincerely 
      Work Experience Co-ordinator 
      Sample letter to parents/carers notifying refusal of placement 
      Date 
      Dear Parent/Carer, 
      The placement you requested for your child *does not have the correct insurance in place / has 
      not had the required Health and Safety check or approval, and therefore does not follow our 
      guidelines. * Delete as applicable 
      New legislation relating to placements came into force in 1999. The Management of Health and Safety
      at Work Regulations (Provisions for Young People) require all employers to have Employer’s Liability 
      Insurance and to carry out a Risk Assessment prior to taking a Work Experience student. 
      The school does not support this placement for your child and so it  unfortunately cannot go ahead. 
      This decision has been taken on *legal / safety grounds. * Delete as applicable 
      Yours sincerely 
      Work Experience Co-ordinator 
      School 
      Sample thank you letter to employers 
      Dear Employer name, 
                       WORK EXPERIENCE 
      On behalf of the Year 10/11 students at school/college, I am writing to thank you and your 
      organisation for taking a student for their work experience placement this year. 
      We are very aware of the amount of time, energy and commitment that you have put into ensuring that
      our students had a rich and varied range of experiences. 
      In the school/college we have developed a preparation programme, together with de-briefing and 
      follow-up activities that will support and develop their experiences with your organisation, so that 
      maximum use is made of this period when they were learning outside the classroom. 
      Once again, thank you for all your help and support and for the hospitality shown to both our student 
      and to the member of staff who visited you and I hope that you will be able to participate in the 
      scheme again next year. 
      Yours sincerely, 
      Work Experience Co-ordinator 
      School