Young Carers in Our School
In our school, we are committed to ensuring that all children reach their full potential! We know that for some children, however, factors outside of school can have a big impact on this, particularly if there is someone in their family or a friend who is ill, disabled, or has a mental health problem or an addiction.
Nationally, on average, in every class there could be as many as 2 pupils who are helping to support someone because of one of these factors – we call these children young carers.
Children can be young carers for lots of different reasons:
- They might be providing physical support to a parent with a physical illness such as fibromyalgia or ME, such as cooking, fetching things or helping with things like putting shoes on or doing the shopping
- They might be helping a parent with a disability who needs help with more personal tasks such as getting dressed, bathing or changing dressings
- Or it could be more emotional support – like being there if their autistic sibling is upset, taking responsibility for young siblings whilst parents attend health appointments, or checking that a parent with depression/anxiety is ok.
Some young carers might be doing lots of caring, others just a small amount but are impacted by the situation at home for example by worrying about the person with the health condition, or needing to do more things for themselves compared to other children.
There is lots of support available for young carers and their families should they ever need it – both inside and outside of school. Examples of this include:
- Allowing additional time to complete schoolwork, e.g. extended deadlines.
- Catch-ups with the young carer lead where the pupil can talk about issues they are facing educationally, this may be individual meetings, or through a young carer drop-in session.
- Meetings with their class teacher to discuss progress and any additional help that can be offered.
- Additional support to complete work, e.g. through deployment of teaching assistants.
- Providing homework clubs to give them a space to complete homework separate from the demands of their home life.
- Access to extra-curricular opportunities which do not fall outside of the school day.
- The school will ensure that the pupil is offered appropriate pastoral care and emotional support, e.g. through The Junction.
- Additional support will be offered to parents in order to remove any communication barriers with them.
- The school will continuously promote additional links with adult care agencies which may be able to support families and relieve care responsibilities.
If you think that any of the above applies to your child, and that they might possibly be a young carer please contact our Young Carer Champion, Mrs Lake or let your class teacher know and we will be in touch.
Even if you feel your child or family are doing really well and don’t need any support, we find that it’s better for us to be aware of children as potential young carers, in case the situation suddenly changes and they (or you) do need support. It just means that you and your child don’t have to start from scratch with letting us know what is going on if things have become difficult.
Below are some national organisations who support Young Carers and their families:
| Organisations |
| Childrens Society https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/information/young-people/young-carers Advice and support for young carers, including finding a local Young Carers support group |
| Carers Trust https://carers.org/ Carers Trust runs a network of local carer organisations in England |
| Carers UK https://www.carersuk.org/ Carers UK is providing information on the various types of carer’s assessments nationwide. |
| NHS https://www.nhs.uk/social-care-and-support/support-and-benefits-for-carers/help-for-young-carers/ The role of the NHS with Young Carers |
| Barnardos https://www.barnardos.org.uk/get-support/young-carers Support from the national children’s charity |
Below are our local Young Carer organisations and contacts:
| Local Authority | Local Authority Contact / Service Information | Local Charity / Service | Any other Info |
| Middlesbrough | Middlesbrough Council Early Help Service 01642 726004 Online referral form through Middlesbrough Front Door screening service | The Junction Young Carers and Youth Service Beth Major – CEO https://www.thejunctionfoundation.com/young-carers-service-/-next-steps-young-adult-carers-service info@thejunctionfoundation.com 01642756000 Carers Together on 01642488977 or Text/WhatsApp 07767117556. | |
| Redcar and Cleveland | Adult Social Care Access Team RCBC 01642 771500 Go to www.wecareyoucare.info to understand your options as an unpaid carer. Alternatively you can contact Teesside Mind on 01642 257020 or Carers Together on 01642 488977 | Teesside Mind For more information call 01642 257020 or email carers@teessidemind.org.uk or click the link for further information Teesside Mind | Simply call 01642 756000 or email info@thejunctionfoundation.com Web: www.thejunctionfoundation.com |
| Stockton | Eastern Ravens Trust info@easternravenstrust.org 07761 073130 Tracey Hamilton Eastern Ravens Trust Young Carers Support Service Stratford House 11-12 Ramsgate Stockton-on-Tees TS18 1BS |
