By Rhianne Richards, Erith School

Work experience is a way for students, like me, to prepare for the challenges of tomorrow.

It gives us an opportunity to find out skills and attitudes required in businesses today.

Employers can help students develop the right skills and manner needed and influence students' future career choices.

From September 19 to 23 I went to North Bexley SureStart. SureStart is an organisation set up to help pregnant women and families with children under the age of four years living in parts of Thamesmead, lower Belvedere and Erith.

During my work placement I learnt a variety of new skills. I now know about working in a modern office and skills required such as photocopying, telephone manner, filing, email and word processing.

I have improved my communication skills and built up more confidence.

I also had the opportunity of undertaking jobs out of the office. I went on home visits to meet children under four with disabilities. I found it very rewarding interacting with the children and watching them learn.

There are lots of opportunities for parents and children at SureStart such as baby groups with activities such as baby weighing, first aid, hand imprints and advice on breastfeeding and weaning. There is a toy library, toddler talk, shakali music and movement group, baby massage group and lots more.

The most enjoyable task at my placement was helping out the baby group because it was good meeting new people and interacting with parents, colleagues and babies.

Work placements are important for the student because it gives us an experience of the working world. It helps students deal with situations away from school. I believe it increases confidence and motivation to succeed in a career.

Work experience helped me acquire, use and improve key working skills and become more aware of my strengths and areas for development. I met lots of new people and had a great deal of fun, which helped me decide about a future career.

Work experience does not only benefit me as a student. Employers can help improve the quality and preparedness of young people coming on to the labour market.

Many employers have found that work experience placements are the ideal way of raising the profile of career opportunities within their organisation. As employers must follow the policy development, planning, monitoring and evaluation of work experience of the student, it gives employers help to develop their management and coaching skills.

Amy, a speech and language therapist at SureStart, wrote in my evaluation: "Rhianne is keen to learn new skills and approaches parents and colleagues with maturity, tact and sensitivity. We have enjoyed having Rhianne for her work placement."

Overall, I would recommend any organisation to accept students for their work placement, as the work experience is both beneficial to both employers and individuals such as myself.