- 5 minutes |
supporting carers in education
Educational settings are best placed to identify and support the needs of young carers.
How can we support carers in education?
Young carers face particular challenges that impact their opportunities to learn. The Young Carers in Schools program aims to create and achieve a school-wide approach to supporting carers. The award provides all the tools you need to support carers in education.
For more information visit https://youngcarersinschools.com/
What is the award?
Each award is built on 5 standards devised from feedback from young carers:
1. UNDERSTAND: There are assigned members of staff with responsibility for understanding and addressing young carers needs
2. INFORM: Awareness is raised by sharing knowledge about disability, illness and young carers throughout the school
3. IDENTIFY: Young carers are being identified within your school
4. LISTEN: They are listened to, consulted with and given time and space to talk
5. SUPPORT:Young carers are supported within the school, and signposted to whole family resources and services outside the school.
Professionals stories
Schools are ideally placed to identify and refer young and young adult carers to Carers Trust Solihull. Depending on the number of carers you have in your school or college would determine the amount of support you would offer. Below are some stories of how carers are supported in these educational settings.
- 14 minutes |
The life of a carer in 2023
- 2 minutes |
Solihull College gets a lesson from Young Adult Carers
faq's
Can I request a list of young carers?
Yes, providing we have consent. We will send you a list of young carers and their ages. Names will only be included if they have consented to their information being shared with educational establishments.
What support is available to support carers?
We support education providers with the national Young Carers in Schools programme. This aims to provide schools with the tools and resources to support young carers and reduce these negative impacts, giving them the same access to education and future life chances as their peers. You can also choose the level of support depending on the number of young carers you have. We can also offer you young carer drop-in sessions with one of our support workers.How is education affected by caring?
Physical health: Young carers are often severely affected by caring through the night, repeatedly lifting a heavy adult, poor diet and lack of sleep. Emotional wellbeing: Stress, tiredness and mental ill-health are common for young carers. Socialisation: Young carers often feel different or isolated and have limited opportunities for socialising. 25% of young carers said they were bullied at school because of their caring role.How can teachers identify young carers?
Is someone…
- Often late, or absent from school with little explanation
- Maybe falling behind on schoolwork, handing in homework late or incomplete
- Often, tired, anxious, withdrawn or worried.
- Isolated from peers, struggles to attend extra-curricular activities and trips.
- Secretive about home life.
- Showing signs of poor hygiene or diet.
- Displaying disruptive behaviour.
- Talks openly about family health issues.
- Becomes uncomfortable when addressing various health topics.