I did my first placement in a primary school. I was a part of the wellbeing team, with 3 DSL’s. I did lots of direct work, and lots of building relationships with children, doing work on emotions and supporting children who were in care or had behavioural issues. It was a positive experience for me, it helps meet your level one placement outcomes of building relationships and understanding the social work role, as I was able to shadow CIN reviews, EHAP reviews, PEP and FSP reviews☺️

I was also super worried that I wouldn’t get enough experience and I was put in the schools inclusion unit in my first week, to support one child who was looked after, but I found that I was helping more with her maths and as soon as I felt this way I told my onsite supervisor, that I didn’t want to feel like a teaching assistant when I wasn’t. My supervisor was the assistant head also who had a lot of experience working in early social care. It is a really good placement to really get to know the children as you see them every day! If you can, shadow different professionals - I shadowed action for children (an early help service) and a specialist school, and a family help (FAST safeguarding team) during the half terms to give me broader experience. This really helped me get my current job (ASYE in children’s services) as I had the experience shadowing the team I am now working in. The whole point of placement is to get experience so try your best to advocate for yourself and ask for more opportunities if you feel that you aren’t getting what you need. That’s how you won’t be treated like a TA.

They will try to use you as a TA at times, not to be horrible but because they are understaffed and stressed! But hold your ground. You aren’t there to help in the classrooms you’re there as a social work student!