Information for schools

Specialist SEND Schools & Colleges

Our aim is to ensure that work experience is accessible for as many young people as possible, including those with significant additional needs.

Experience has shown that a safe and successful placement is best achieved by progression through our Stepping Stones to Employability Programme. For that reason, we do not accept students from SEND schools outside of this programme.

Please use this link to our Stepping Stones page to find out more about how to partner with us on this.

Mainstream Schools Students Y7-9

Unfortunately we can’t take students in Y7-Y9 for individual work experience.

We are very happy to work with schools to take groups of 10-30 students from years 7, 8 or 9 for a ‘taster day’, including a careers discussion and time for questions to our staff.
These groups would need to be accompanied by the appropriate number of staff from your school.
You would also need to arrange transport for the group to and from site. For schools for whom transport is difficult, we may be able to provide a minibus for smaller groups.

There is a cost associated with these group days, scaled up depending on the size of the group. Please call us on 01494 474486 or email info@chilternrangers.co.uk to discuss costs and availability.

Mainstream Schools Students Y10-13

We take students in years 10-13 for individual work experience, usually for 4 day placements during a single week (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri). Where we have funding, we have begun to take up to 4 students in popular spring and summer weeks, with a dedicated Ranger to supervise them throughout. At other times, we take up to 2 students per week who join a variety of sessions led by different Rangers. We aim to give all a wide range of conservation experiences on a variety of sites, from nature reserves to urban community gardens. Please note that we do not offer just single day work experience placements. As for the younger age groups above, we are happy to work with schools to arrange a careers ‘taster day’ for 10-30 students, which is ideal for those schools which just require a single day of work experience. Please get in touch for information on costs for this.

If you are interested in funding a one week placement for a group of 4 students from your school, please get in touch. This has worked well in the past for those students who are funded through sources such as pupil premium, or who may lack contacts to find work experience through other networks.

It is important that we assess the readiness of students to work with us before accepting them for a placement. To this end, all will be invited to attend for interview before a place is confirmed. This will include a tour of our depot and a health and safety briefing. We see the interview as an integral part of the work experience process. Following an interview, a place may be confirmed, or we may wish to speak to the school if any concerns arise.

Please ensure that students are aware that we expect them, rather than their parents, to make initial contact with us. If they wish, they can contact us by phone 01494 474486 or email info@chilternrangers.co.uk , to check availability before applying. They will then be directed to complete our Under 18 Work Experience Form.

All our Chiltern Rangers Staff are First Aid trained and DBS checked.

A typical placement week will be of 4 days (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) . Hours will be 9am to 4pm, beginning and ending at our depot address (Kingsmead Depot, 60 Fennels Road, High Wycombe, HP11 1SL). Students will travel out from the depot with us each day to work on a variety of nature sites.

Wednesday is our day for team meetings, planning and administration so we would not usually take school students for placement on a Wednesday.

Follow the links below for our:

Employers Liability & Public Liability Certificates

Health & Safety Policy

Child Protection Policy

Fire Procedure

Information for Coordinators

The nature of our work means that we have well over a hundred Risk Assessments, covering every site we work on and every type of task. The two risk assessments below should be sufficient to cover most circumstances:

Summary Risk Assessment for Working with Children & Young People

Risk Assessment Record for Generic Conservation Activities

As well as gaining practical skills and knowledge about conservation, there are many other essential skills to be gained from a work experience placement with us.  We have recently joined the Skills Builder Partnership who have worked with us to design resources enabling students to develop the core skills of Listening, Speaking, and Teamwork. The Skills Builder Partnership includes 600+ schools and colleges, 200+ impact organisations and 100+ top employers – working collectively towards the mission that one day, everyone will build the essential skills to succeed. We will work through this process with students during their placement, resulting in a certificate confirming the progress they have made which they can add to their CV.  Follow this link to read more about the improved economic and life outcomes associated with essential skills within the framework.

Clothing and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Students will need to wear outdoor clothing that they don’t mind getting dirty. It’s best to dress in layers so that they can add or remove as necessary.

They will need waterproofs, preferably both coat and trousers, as we’ll go out whatever the weather.*

Footwear needs to be sturdy and have a gripping sole – walking boots or work boots are ideal, or wellies if wet. Trainers are not suitable.*

A warm hat is needed in winter and a cap or sunhat in summer (and don’t forget sunscreen).

We will supply gloves, plus safety glasses, helmet and waders where needed. 

*If students don’t have waterproofs or boots we have a good quality supply to lend.

They just need to let us have their sizes beforehand.

Work Experience Feedback for School Staff

At the end of your student’s work experience placement(s), we’d love to hear from your school about the opportunity that we offer (there is a separate form for students that they will complete at the end of their placement).  This feedback helps us to learn, grow, and improve our offer for future students.

Form for school staff to complete: Schools Work Experience Feedback Form

With gratitude to the following organisations who have helped to fund our work experience programme …