Our commitments to young carers in education and training

Below are the commitments to young carers in an educational and training setting which can help identify and direct them to support.

  1. Raising awareness of young carers and promoting support
  2. Identify young carers
  3. Produce a young carers policy
  4. Nominate a young carers lead / champion
  5. Designate a safe and appropriate space for young carers
  6. Make sure young carers are linked to mental health support
  7. Identify / categorise young carers as a vulnerable group
  8. Recognise that flexibility may be needed when responding to the needs of young carers
  9. Offer a programme of careers advice, guidance, and work placements

Raising awareness of young carers and promoting support

Possible examples:

  • Using different methods to highlight young carers and carers. For example:
    • assemblies
    • websites
    • school newsletter
    • notice board
    • question on school / college application
  • Training on an on-going basis
    • all staff
    • all pupils
    • senior management
    • all governors
  • Promote activities / events:
    • drop-ins
    • peer support groups
    • details of local young carers support services using your website
    • notice board
    • student planners

Tip: Educational settings can develop their own intitiative to support young carers

Where to get help / resources

Identify young carers

Possible examples:

  • Keeping a register or list of young carers. Register accessible to all relevant members of the pastoral team and teaching staff
  • Young carers flag on pupil management system
  • Young Carers ID Card / Passport (in development)

Tip: This will help build support mechanisms should the pupil's attendance / attainment levels fall.

Where to get help / resources

Produce a young carers policy

Possible examples:

  • Policy template

Tip: This could be co-produced with young carers.

Where to get help / resources

Sample policies are available. South Tyneside young carers support service have a template policy which can be adapted to suit an individual school or college. 

Nominate a young carers lead / champion

Possible examples:

  • Trusted adult young carers can turn to:
    • SENCO
    • MH lead
    • Member of pastoral care

Where to get help / resources

  • Carers Trust / Young Carers Alliance
    Website: Carers

Designate a safe and appropriate space for young carers

Possible examples:

  • A private space for 1:1 meetings / emotional support
  • Drop-ins for young carers
  • A lunch pass for young carers on drop-in days

Make sure young carers are linked to mental health support

Possible examples:

  • Linking with school nurses, healthy minds team - making referrals

Where to get help / resources

  • Healthy Minds Team, South Tyneside, and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust 
    Phone: 0191 283 2937
  • Kooth online mental health support for 11 to 25 year olds
    Website: Kooth

Identify / categorise young carers as a vulnerable group

Possible examples: 

  • Review young carers alongside other groups of vulnerable pupils

Where to get help / resources

  • Carers Trust / Young Carers Alliance
    Website: Carers

Recognise that flexibility may be needed when responding to the needs of young carers

Possible examples: 

  • Show flexibility on a case-by-case basis regarding issues such as lateness to school, late homework, and poor attendance. Detention times may need to be changed so it doesn't impact a young carer's responsibilities.

Where to get help / resources

  • Carers Trust / Young Carers Alliance
    Website: Carers

Offer a programme of careers advice, guidance, and work experience placements

Possible examples:

  • Consider working with Connexions South Tyneside. Connexions advisers can support young people to make positive choices about their future, help young carers recognise the skills they have gained, and the options they have.

Where to get help / resources