Free School Meals: Supporting Access to Work Experience

High‑quality work experience should be for everyone – but too often, young people from disadvantaged backgrounds or with additional needs miss out. 

Engaging young people from SEND, Alternative Provision and under-represented ethnic groups is not just inclusive — employers are 20% more likely to say it helps build stronger future talent pipelines. 

Students eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) face barriers to accessing work experience. This guide explains what those barriers are and how employers and schools can design inclusive programmes that genuinely open doors.  

Why Inclusion Matters

Work experience builds confidence, expands networks and helps young people see what's possible. For students who don't have family connections to professional workplaces, a placement can be life‑changing. 

But access alone is not enough. The data shows that even where opportunities exist, they are not always meaningful or relevant: 

• Although access to work experience has increased for disadvantaged young people, many report that opportunities do not align with their interests. This suggests a lack of visibility and clear information about pathways.  

• Young people eligible for free school meals are more likely to be offered work experience, but less likely to find it relevant compared to their peers. (Source: https://www.youthemployment.org.uk/dev/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Youth-Voice-Census-2025-Results-Report.pdf)

Futures for All exists to support employers to create high-quality work experience that is relevant, informative and accessible, so that every young person can access opportunities that are meaningful and reflect their interests and potential. 

 

Barriers Facing Free School Meals Students

Financial barriers

Even unpaid work experience can have hidden costs: 

• Travel to and from the placement (especially in rural areas or where public transport is limited). 

• Lunch and refreshments during the working day. 

• Appropriate clothing (for example, business attire or safety equipment). 

• For families already struggling financially, these costs can make work experience feel out of reach.

  
  

Network barriers

Many placements are still secured through family and social connections. Students whose parents don't work in professional or corporate environments often lack these networks, leaving them reliant on what their school can arrange.

Confidence and cultural barriers

Students from disadvantaged backgrounds may lack confidence in professional settings or feel that certain industries "aren't for people like me." Without role models or prior exposure, even applying for a placement can feel intimidating.

How Employers Can Make Work Experience Inclusive

Remove financial barriers

Where possible: 

• Offer to cover or contribute to travel costs. 

• Provide lunch or a meal allowance. 

• Be flexible about dress codes (for example, accept smart casual rather than requiring a full suit). 

• If you can't fund these directly, signpost students to school bursaries or hardship funds. 

Even small gestures make a big difference. 

Widen your reach

List your opportunities on national platforms like the Futures For All Work Experience Finder so they're visible to students across the country, not just those with connections. 

Use clear, jargon‑free language in your placement descriptions and avoid unnecessary requirements (for example, "must have prior experience" or "parent must work in the sector").

Offer flexible formats

Not every student can commit to a full week. Consider: 

• Shorter Insight Days (1 day) as an entry point. 

• Virtual or hybrid placements that reduce travel barriers. 

• Part‑time or after‑school options where feasible. 

• Make reasonable adjustments for SEND students. 

• Ask students (and their schools and colleges) what support they need and be open to making adjustments. This might include: 

  • Quiet spaces for breaks if a student finds busy environments overwhelming. 

  • Visual schedules or written instructions for students who benefit from structure. 

  • Adjusting communication styles where helpful. 

  • Allowing extra time for tasks or offering alternative ways to present work. 

  • Providing a consistent point of contact or mentor throughout the placement. 

Most adjustments are straightforward and cost nothing – they're about thoughtfulness, not a major resource change.

Provide role models 

Where possible, introduce students to employees from similar backgrounds or with similar experiences. Representation matters, and seeing "someone like me" succeeding in your organisation can shift a young person's sense of what's possible.

How Schools Can Support Inclusive Work Experience

Prepare students thoroughly

Use tutor time, PSHE or enrichment sessions to build confidence and skills: 

• What to expect in a workplace. 

• How to travel independently (especially for students with SEND or those unfamiliar with public transport). 

• Communication and workplace behaviours (punctuality, asking for help, professional conduct). 

• Share key information with employers. 

• Help students with experience in completing application forms and showcasing strengths. 

• With student and parent consent, brief employers on any support needs in a clear, practical way.  

Focus on: 

• What helps this student work well. 

• Any specific adjustments they might need. 

• Who to contact if they have questions. 

• Keep it simple and solution‑focused rather than deficit‑focused. 

• Offer tailored support 

Some students may need: 

• Extra preparation sessions before the placement. 

• A phone check‑in during the week. 

• Structured reflection activities afterwards to consolidate learning. 

This can be built into your SEND or Pupil Premium intervention work.

Use platforms that widen access

By using the Work Experience Finder, you give all students access to a much wider range of opportunities than you could arrange individually – and you reduce the workload on your team. 

Celebrate successes

Share stories of students who have thrived on work experience. This helps broaden understanding (for young people and employers) and inspires other young people to give it a go.

What Futures For All Does to Support Inclusion

Inclusion is at the heart of Futures For All's mission. We exist to ensure that access to opportunity doesn't depend on background, postcode or connections. 

Through the Work Experience Finder and our partnerships with employers and schools, we: 

• Connect young people from over 2,200 state schools and colleges – including those in areas of high deprivation – with high‑quality work experience. 

• Work with employers to design inclusive programmes that remove barriers. 

• Provide resources and guidance to help schools support students with additional needs. 

• Advocate for policy and practice changes that make work experience fairer and more accessible. 

We've seen first‑hand that when work experience is inclusive, everyone benefits: young people gain confidence and skills, employers access diverse talent, and social mobility improves. 

Inclusive work experience isn't complicated – it's about removing barriers, making thoughtful adjustments and being intentional about who gets access to opportunities. 

If you're an employer or school or college committed to opening doors for all young people, Futures For All is here to support you.