Policy statement

Balham Community Centre recognises that qualifications and training make an important contribution to the quality of the service provided. As part of our commitment to quality, we offer placements to students undertaking qualifications and training. We also offer placements for school pupils on work experience.

We aim to provide for students on placement with us experiences that contribute to the successful completion of their studies.

Procedures

• We require students on qualification courses to meet the 'suitable person' requirements of Ofsted and have DBS checks carried out.

• We require schools placing students under the age of 17 years with the setting to vouch for their good character.

• We supervise students under the age of 17 years at all times and do not allow them to have unsupervised access to children.

• Students undertaking qualification courses who are placed in our setting on a short term basis are not counted in our staffing ratios.

• Trainee staff employed by the setting may be included in the ratios if they are deemed competent.

• We take out employers' liability insurance and public liability insurance, which covers both trainees and voluntary helpers.

• We require students to keep to our confidentiality policy.

• We co-operate with students' tutors in order to help students to fulfil the requirements of their course of study.

• We provide students, at the first session of their placement, with a short induction on how our setting is managed, how our sessions are organised and our policies and procedures.

• We communicate a positive message to students about the value of qualifications and training.

• We ensure that trainees and students placed with us are engaged in bona fide training,