In The Guide:

• Background & Context
• Standards & QA
• The Process
  • Benefits & Objectives
  • Initiating Partnerships
  • Induction & Mentoring
  • Setting a Work Plan
  • Agreeing a Timetable
• Monitoring & Feedback
• Provider Checklist
• Mla Checklist
• Trainee Checklist

Existing Links

It's worth investigating whether or not your organisation already has established links with a university, school, museum, library or archive even if they're not relating to ITT. Schools can often be useful bridges to other organisations - they may well already accept trainees from providers and may regularly visit museums, libraries and archives.

Use this Website

Read through the case studies and see if they fit in and relate to your own experience and resources. Make use of the forum and contact us sections of this site for additional help and advice.

Identify The Partner's Aims and Objectives

You'll be well on your way to a successful placement if you have managed to identify each of the partners' aims and objectives and ensured that they are compatible and achievable. Don't forget that there's likely to be a partner school involved too - and they need to be included in the process as well. Based on experience so far the quality of the placement for trainees will vary depending on the school in which they happen to be placed. Trainees and mla staff have recognised the crucial role of the partner school. The support of the partner school appeared to be essential for a successful placement.

Communication

Don't forget communication - which could be one of the biggest challenges for your partnership. For our first placements good communication was seen as vital. One trainee summed it up:

"The success of the placement was determined by good communication."

Where communication between the provider, trainee, mla and school was good, effective placements realised their potential.