Work-integrated learning

Students on our BA (Hons) Early Years and Childhood Studies complete work-integrated learning during their second year and the WIL period occurs from October to May, for 30 days.

Placement providers will allocate a mentor who will guide our WIL students through the assessment criteria to become Level 3 Early Years Educators.

Our placement providers play a key role in supporting the learning process of our students, as well as assessing the student against the required standards of the Early Years Educator assessment.

Placement providers will need to provide evidence that the WIL student has achieved the requirements via assessment reports, which are completed alongside a University member of staff.

Students must only work with children aged 0-5 years.

My placement is now hiring me as a full time employee. I’ve loved my time there and I have learnt so much, it’s been really nice to feel like I’ve been helpful to them as well.

Isabelle, (BA Hons) Early Years and Childhood Studies 

Our BA (Hons) Early Years Childhood Studies and BA (Hons) Education students undertake Work Integrated Learning in their first and second year of study.

Manchester Met. Project is a five-day placement for students in their first year of study and takes place February – March.

Manchester Met. Connected is an eight-day placement for students in their second year of study with takes place February – April.

Students will attend the WIL placement for one day per week, offering them an introductory experience of working with children in different settings, this could be a school, nursery, children’s club etc. Students will have had varying prior experience, some may already have a Level 3 childcare qualification and have substantial placement experience, whilst for others, this may be their first time in a childcare setting.

It is expected that the students participate and become part of the staff team as much as is possible and should discuss with their manager what they hope to gain from the WIL.

Students will have set their own action plans based around professional skills and will be expected to write a reflective evaluation of this upon completion.

I enjoyed placement as it allowed me to work alongside children and staff while also learning and observing, During placement I was able to do activities with children an use my skills from placement last year and improve them.

Katie, BA (Hons) Early Years and Childhood Studies

Students on the BSc (Hons) Education Psychology complete Work Integrated Learning during their first, second and third year of study. 

The WIL period occurs from January to May, for a minimum of five days.

We are not currently recruiting new partner organisations for this unit but would welcome any interest registered.

Students studying BA (Hons) Integrated Health and Social Care complete their work-integrated learning placement in their second-year.  

Our WIL partner organisations span across the health and social care sector and include schools and nurseries, charities, CICs and businesses. Students can get involved with the day-to-day activity and/or work on a specific project agreed before the placement.  

In keeping with the varied curriculum, we welcome organisations from across the discipline including:  

• children and young people including SEN 
• mental health 
• learning disability 
• public health 
• housing and homelessness 
• addiction 
• physical disability 
• community organisations 

All students on our BSc (Hons) Psychology, BSc (Hons) Forensic Psychology and BSc (Hons) Psychology with Counselling and Psychotherapy take part in work-integrated learning in the first year and have the option to complete another placement in the third year. Students can get involved with the day-to-day activity and/or work on a specific project agreed prior to the placement. 

In keeping with the varied curriculum, we welcome organisations from across the discipline including:  

• children and young people including SEN 
• mental health 
• learning disability 
• public health 
• housing and homelessness 
• Addiction 
• physical disability 
• community organisations 
• business psychology 
• HR services 

Work-integrated learning placements should provide students with the opportunity to explore the importance of a human rights approach, evidence-based practice and person-centred care in mental health. This is while being able to demonstrate critical awareness of professionalism, marginalisation, and discrimination in professional contexts.   

Work-integrated learning placements should provide students with the opportunity to consider the key roles, skills, and competencies of a health psychologist whilst, being able to reflect on their personal and professional development.  

All work-integrated learning students will have completed pre-placement training that prepares them for the workplace including safeguarding training. 

All students completing placement will have a DBS certificate applied for through the University. 

In advance of the placement, organisations are required to provide an outline of the types of things the students can expect to experience whilst with them.  

If the students are working on a live project, organisations are required to provide a project brief in advance. 

Organisations are required to attend an online preparation and information session. 

Organisations should invite students to an induction meeting in advance of the start date which should include: 

• an overview of the organisation 
• access to relevant organisational policies and procedures 
• introduction to key contacts 
• student’s role and responsibilities 
• organisations should assign a named supervisor to the student for the duration of the placement. This may be the same person for all students or differ depending on the role/ project. 
• organisations to hold regular review meetings to discuss the students’ progress. 
• organisations are asked to complete an end-of-unit evaluation form to feedback on their experience. 
• the WIL team are available to support you throughout the placement process. The WIL lead will be in regular contact by email to ask for a brief update on the student’s progress.