In this section you will find support to build and tailor placement partnerships, and design quality placement experiences for students, employers and educators.
This information continues to be updated by practitioners and experts from higher & further education, sport, and leisure sectors.
What is a placement
Placements are a form of work-based learning. The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport & Physical Activity (CIMSPA) state;
"Work-based placements involve learning through work, learning for work and/or learning at work. The experience is an authentic structured opportunity, designed to meet the learning needs of the students."
Types of placement
Practice
In practice-based placements students learn through undertaking practical delivery of a role/tasks as part of a mentored work experience with an employer. These placements are normally a compulsory part of a course or qualification which require assessment, feedback or validation.
In sport, this often includes delivery and practitioner roles such as coaching, officiating, and fitness instruction roles. Learning experiences with employers often centre around Active Schools, Active Campus, Sports Development, Clubs and Leisure providers.
Project
In project-based placements students learn through undertaking a project or commissioned piece of work outlined by the employer or in an area of interest for the student. These placements can be delivered independently or directly with the employer, with some form of supervision and communication in place. Typically project-placements will require assessment, feedback or validation.
In sport, this is commonly projects based in areas like events, media, data, fund raising, hospitality, research, or accounting. Employers often include Governing Bodies, Local Authorities, Leisure Trusts and other sport, health & Leisure providers.
Shadow
In shadow-based placements students learn through observing a professional in their role. Students will typically spend time within the employers setting but have no / limited duties that directly contribute to the organisation. Shadowing is a valuable learning experience, often informal, and would not usually require assessment, feedback or validation.
Who is involved
Student
At the heart of a quality placement experience is a committed student whose needs are central to its design. They represent the educator whilst learning from their duties with the employer.
Employer
Any organisation who ‘deploys’ someone in a work setting (company, authority, national body, voluntary group i.e. sports club). They provide work-based experience aligned to their current and/or future workforce and workplace needs.
Educator
A college or university who operate the educational course. They support the connection with employers to access relevant work-based experiences as part of a student’s study or additional learning.
Fundamentals of a strong placement partnership
Collaboration is key - most effectively achieved by building a strong relationship between the educator and employer, where they can work together to design and implement a placement that meets everyone’s needs.
Expectations are clear - ask questions to ensure you understand all the key players, their challenges and needs. Everyone should have clarity of purpose, be open around challenges, and aiming for manageable demands on capacity.
Responsibilities are defined – ensure educators, employers and students have defined and discussed responsibilities. Critical areas of responsibility should include safety & wellbeing, inductions, mentoring, assessing, and communication.
Hints, tips and good ideas
Pre-Placement
- Ask lots of questions – develop a clear understanding of each other as early as possible.
- Make strong introductions – PASS Profiles (see tools) can assist in key information sharing prior to selecting and/or connecting students and employers.
- Obstacles should be overcome – proactively use pre shared information (PASS Profiles) to identify and remove barriers. This might include travel, kit costs, disability, religion, and other relevant protected characteristic considerations.
- Don’t fail to prepare – inductions are a great way to outline key context and need to know information through training, reading or interventions that will help maximise the experience &/or meet minimum requirements.
- Leave nothing to chance – use a PASS student agreement template (see tools) to clearly outline specific details on commitments & expectations.
- Safety first – ensure students are PVG checked as required, and that they will have access to the necessary kit and resources for the role. Everyone’s health, safety & wellbeing should be fully considered.
- Active mentoring - ‘mentors in life are important, choose them wisely’ (Kiyosaki) – identify a mentor to support, develop & provide student feedback. Educators can support and prepare students to be ‘mentee ready’.
- Critical assessment – educators and employers should work together to outline and agree process and requirements to feedback &/or assessment appropriate to the course needs and the employer’s capacity.
During Placement
- Communicate and collaborate – employers and educators should stay connected, share positives, and trouble-shoot issues together as a partnership
- Student support – educators should check-in and connect with students to support the placement experience
- Active mentor – mentors should regularly connect with students to build rapport and trust, and to reflect on their experiences & areas for development.
- Assessing – as agreed in the partnership. Mentors/employers should complete feedback &/or assessments.
Post-Placement
- Partnerships continuously improve – use anecdotal insights & data to reflect on the partnership and the student experience. Adapt and evolve for future placement collaborations.
- Shout about success – help to strengthen the value of placements by sharing your examples, student stories, and impact through networks & social media.
- Recognise their efforts – students can hugely benefit from employer recognition, consider writing a testimonial
- Employ or deploy – where mutually beneficially and viable, extend employability opportunities through further volunteering, interview experience, or paid work.
Feedback
We value your feedback on the information provided in these pages, please spare a few minutes to complete our feedback form.