Introduction

This module gives you the opportunity to hone your professional skills and career aspirations through an education-based work-based placement. In taught sessions you will explore the professional characteristics of organisations who work with children, young people and their families in an educational capacity. This will include investigating the staffing and leadership structures of example organisations, their policies, their modes of work, professional roles and conduct. In addition, the role of reflective practice in professional development will be examined from both theoretical and practical angles.

You will be given support with organising your placement, which can be in a location of your choice (however, approval must be gained from the module leader who must see a clear connection between the work of your chosen organisation and the concept of ‘education’) or may be based with one of CES’ key partners. CES placement partners consist of organisations that deliver both formal and informal education in a variety of contexts (i.e. schools, hospitals, charities, children’s centres, sports organisations, youth theatres, community organisations).

Principle Module Aims and Outcomes

• To investigate the practicalities of working with adults, young people and children in professional settings.
• To explore the role of professionals in services and organisations whose focus is working with children, young people or adults.
• To relate the workplace experience to personal and professional development.
• To investigate the role of reflection in the improvement and development of places of work, leadership structures and in the recognition and promotion of best practice.
• To connect personal roles to wider debates relating to childhood, education and society.
• To develop professional skills relating to future career paths and employability.

Syllabus

• This module will provide students with the opportunity to develop their personal and professional skills through a work-based placement.
• It will begin by exploring various characteristics of organisations involved with children, young people and their families. This will include investigating the structure of these organisations, policies and modes of work, professional roles and conduct. In addition, the role of reflection from both theoretical and practical angles will be examined.
• The placement will form the middle section of the module, with students completing directed tasks during this time and maintaining a reflective journal.
• The module will conclude by bringing together the first and second parts through a focus on the completion of a reflective portfolio and careers oriented tasks, including CV creation, mock interviews and job application guidance.

Study time

Type	Required
Lectures	10 sessions of 1 hour (9%)
Seminars	10 sessions of 1 hour (9%)
Placement	15 hours (13%)
Private study	80 hours (70%)
Total	115 hours

Assessment

	Weighting	Study Time
Essay-based assignment	75%	25 hours
In this essay-based assignment, students will be permitted to engage in personal reflection based upon their own experiences and ideas, alongside a critical engagement with appropriate academic and policy literature.
Individual presentation	25%	10 hours
In this presentation, students will make reference to the work experience they have encountered. They are encouraged to make reference to the big and small steps they need to take to progress with their career planning and the development of their employability skills.