A successful professional experience placement depends a great deal on the level of dedicated support provided by the school’s professional experience coordinator and supervising teacher.

The professional experience coordinator is not just a liaison between a university and school, they develop school procedures and practices that support a high-quality placement for both supervising teachers and pre-service teachers.

There are steps that a professional experience coordinator can take before, during and after the placement to build and maintain an excellent model of professional placement at your school. We have developed a range of materials and models of practice that may be adapted to suit your school’s context.

Proven strategies that support high quality professional experience placements

The following resources have been created by Hub schools. (schools that specialist in professional experience placements) to support APST 6.1 and 6.2. These strategies have been proven to improve the quality of a professional experience placement for pre-service teachers. They are designed to be adapted at each school.

Pre-placement strategies

• Asking supervisors to volunteer
• Preparing for a successful start
• Pre-placement questionnaire for professional experience placements - Fillable resource
• Dictionary of Education Language

First week of placement strategies

• Annual open classroom list for pre-service teachers
• Shadow a class for the day
• End of week 1 questionnaire for PSTs - Fillable resource
• End of week 1 - Check In with Supervisor
• Creating a supportive environment for PSTs requiring additional support

During placement strategies

• Two weeks of open doors to classrooms
• Weekly induction meetings
• Create peer learning opportunities
• Pre and post-placement Interviews
• Promote immersion opportunities
• End of placement questionnaire for PST - Fillable resource