Provider Access Statement and Policy
Provider Access Statement
This policy statement sets out the school’s arrangements for managing the access of providers to students at the school for the purpose of giving them information about the provider’s educations or training offer. This complies with the school’s legal obligations under Section 42B of the Education Act 1997.
Riversides School welcomes feedback from parents, staff, pupils and employers on their whole school careers strategy. If you would like to get in touch, please contact us
The Provider Access Policy
1. Aims
This policy statement aims to set out our school’s arrangements for managing the access of education and training providers to pupils for the purpose of giving them information about their offer. It sets out:
- Procedures in relation to requests for access
- The grounds for granting and refusing requests for access
- Details of premises or facilities to be provided to a person who is given access
2. Statutory requirements
Schools are required to ensure that there is an opportunity for a range of education and training providers to access students in years 8 to 13 for the purpose of informing them about approved technical education, qualifications or apprenticeships.
Schools must provide a minimum of 6 encounters with technical education or training providers to all pupils in years 8 to 13 (see more detail in section 2.1 below).
Schools must also have a policy statement that outlines the circumstances in which education and training providers will be given access to these students. This is outlined in section 42B of the Education Act 1997, the Skills and Post-16 Act 2022 and on page 43 of guidance from the Department for Education (DfE) on careers guidance and access for education and training providers.
This policy shows how our school complies with these requirements.
2.1 The 6 encounters schools must offer to all pupils in years 8 to 11
Schools must offer:
Two encounters for pupils during the ‘first key phase’ (year 8 or 9)
- All pupils must attend
- Encounters can take place any time during year 8, and between 1 September and 28 February during year 9
Two encounters for pupils during the ‘second key phase’ (year 10 or 11)
- All pupils must attend
- Encounters can take place any time during year 10, and between 1 September and 28 February during year 11
These encounters must happen for a reasonable period of time during the standard school day. Schools can continue to provide complementary experiences but encounters outside of school hours won’t count towards these requirements. Schools must ask each provider to provide the following information as a minimum:
- Information about the provider and the approved qualifications or apprenticeships they offer
- Information about what careers those qualifications and apprenticeships can lead to
- What learning or training with the provider is like
- Answers to any questions from pupils
At Riversides School, the Provider Access Legislation is linked to our Preparations for Adulthood and Careers curriculum Each encounter is planned carefully into the overview ensuring that students have access to meaningful information about education provision.
2.2 Meaningful provider encounters
Riversides school is committed to providing meaningful encounters to all pupils.
Encounter is defined as 1 meeting/session between pupils and 1 provider. Meaningful encounters can take place by a visit, visitor or live online engagement is also an option at our school.
3. Student entitlement
All students in years 8 to 11 at Riversides School are entitled to:
- Find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeship opportunities as part of our careers programme, which provides information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point
- Hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical education and apprenticeships, e.g. through activities and events such as options events, assemblies and taster events
- Understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses
4. Management of provider access requests
4.1 Procedure
A provider wishing to request access should contact Kerry Downs (Business Manager).
Telephone: 01905 21261 or Contact Us
4.2 Opportunities for access
A number of events, integrated into our careers programme, will offer providers an opportunity to come into school to speak to students and/or their parents/carers.
| Autumn | Spring | Summer | |
| Primary | |||
| YR 7 | Research jobs that are of interest to pupils. | Transport company visit | Flying to Help |
| YR 8 | Careers fair Hive | Army | Southco Latch building workshop |
| YR 9 | Sanctuary visit | Careers fair Life beyond | Money matters workshop |
| YR 10 | Worcestershire Apprenticeships | Mazak Visit | Work experience |
| YR 11 | Southco | The National School & College Leavers Festival (NEC) | Individual visits to college choices |
4.3 Granting and refusing access
Access will be offered depending on the curriculum pathway a pupil follows. Refusal to events may take place when a booking system is in place and capacity is full.
4.4 Safeguarding
Our safeguarding/child protection policy outlines the school’s procedure for checking the identity and suitability of visitors.
Education and training providers will be expected to adhere to this policy.
4.5 Premises and facilities
- Facilities will be available to enable providers to access students, e.g. rooms, specialist equipment such as audio and visual devices
- All events should be organised and accessed by Paula Collins or the careers team at Riversides School.
- Providers are welcome to leave prospectuses or other material for pupils or parent/carers to access.
5. Previous providers
In previous years, the following providers from the local area were invited to Riversides School to speak to pupils:
- Wildgoose
- Pershore College
- HOW College
- Kidderminster College
- Worcestershire apprenticeships
- Dying to Drive
- Harlow’s Timber Yard
6. Pupil destinations
Year 11 pupils moved to a range of providers:
- Worcester Sixth Form College
- Hereford College
- HOW college Worcester
- Kidderminster College
- Pershore College
- Bank Side
- Hoople-Hereford
- The Bridge School – Malvern
7. Complaints
Any complaints related to provider access can be raised following the school complaints procedure or directly with The Careers & Enterprise Company via provideraccess@careersandenterprise.co.uk
8. Links to other policies
- Safeguarding/child protection policy
- Careers strategy policy
- Curriculum policy
- Complaints policy
9. Monitoring arrangements
This policy will be reviewed and approved by the school Governing Body annually