Student Placement

STUDENT POLICY

At South Hill Park Pre-school we feel that qualifications and training make an important contribution to the quality of care and education. As part of our commitment, we may offer placements to students undertaking relevant qualifications/training.  We aim to provide students experiences that will contribute to the successful completion of their studies and provide examples of quality practice in early years care and education. 

• The Pre-school Manager will ensure that students attending the setting meet the ‘suitable person’ requirements. 

• The Pre-school Manager will discuss the aim of the placement with the student’s tutor before the placement commences. The expectations of both parties are agreed at this point.

• The good character of students under 17 years old must be vouched for by the establishment that places them, the Pre-school Manager must be satisfied that all relevant checks have been made before placement takes place.

• Students do not have unsupervised access to the children and are not allowed to assist any children in the bathroom, change nappies or deal with any first aid incidents alone.  However, we recognise that students may need to practise these tasks as part of their course, in these circumstances their staff buddy will closely supervise and guide them through the processes. Students are allowed to assist children with outer clothing such as coats and jumpers. 

• Students under the age of 17 years will be counted as a child in the child: adult ratios and will not be admitted in numbers if it will hinder our essential work with the children. 

• Where an employed member of staff is studying towards a childcare/education qualification their duties and responsibilities remain the same as per their contract. Qualified staff and mentors will oversee their studies and tasks.  

• Public liability and employer’s liability insurance is in place that covers students.

• Students must agree to our confidentiality policy and that any information gathered by them, about children, families, staff and business related to the Pre-school must remain confidential. 

• Students receive an induction that includes how the setting and sessions are managed. Students will sign and agree to the policies and procedures in place at South Hill Park Preschool, in particular safeguarding, confidentiality and health and safety.

• Students will be given an information pack as part of their induction this will include a Safeguarding cue card and details of what to do if they have any safeguarding concerns and who to report their concerns to. 

• Senior members of staff liaise with students’ tutors to assist them in fulfilling the requirements of their course of study.

• The setting communicates a positive message to students about the value of qualifications and training.

• The needs of the children and their families remain paramount at all times and students are only admitted in numbers that do not hinder the work of the setting.

• The Pre-school Manager ensures that students and trainees on placement are engaged in bona fide early years training, which provides the necessary background understanding of children’s development and activities.

• Students needing to do a written study of a child or children must obtain written permission from the child’s parent or guardian. All studies by the student will be anonymised. 

• The Pre-school has carried out a risk assessment to identify any possible risks to having a student in the setting. 

• Students are allocated a staff buddy, who they can go to for advice and support during their time at the Pre-school.  The student can also go to the Pre-school Manager or Deputy Manager for support.  

Last reviewed August 2024