Young Carers Policy

Young Carers Policy 

At East Wichel Community Primary School and Nursery we believe that all children and young people have the right to an education, regardless of their home circumstances.

We acknowledge that there are likely to be Young Carers among our pupils/students, and that being a young carer can have an adverse effect on a young person's education.

We have adopted our Young Carers policy so that we will be able to relieve some of the worries, which Young Carers may have about home and their school work, and show that we believe Young Carers' education is important.

Who are Young Carers?

Young Carers are children and young people whose lives are affected by looking after someone at home. The person/s they care for may be a parent, sibling or grandparent and the care they give may be physical and/or emotional. They are carrying out tasks and responsibilities, which are additional to those appropriate for their age. The person they look after may have one or more of the following:

• Physical disability
• Mental health issues
• Learning difficulties
• Alcohol or drug misuse
• Long-term illness

Young Carers' responsibilities may include:

• Personal care (e.g. bathing, dressing, feeding)
• Giving or prompting medication/injections
• Shopping
• Housework
• Emotional support
• Looking after younger siblings
• Budgeting and paying bills
• Young Carers can feel tired, worried and isolated. Their social life is often restricted with few opportunities for fun and after school/college activities.

East Wichel Community Primary School and Nursery should ensure that the Young Carers Policy is implemented in conjunction with the following points:

1. Provide a designated link staff member with special responsibility for young carers; a ‘Young Carers Champion’ who will be the main point of contact for all issues pertaining to young carers and who will support colleagues to understand the challenges that young carers may face. This named member of staff will also liaise with relevant colleagues, Swindon Young Carers Service and other relevant agencies with the consent of the young carer and their family.
2. Provide young carers with opportunities to speak to the ‘Young Carers Champion’ in private in order to share their concerns, who will not discuss their situation in front of their peers.
3. Ensure that the whole school is committed to meeting the needs of Young Carers and that pupils have access to the appropriate information regarding the support that is available.
4. Respect the family and Young Carer’s right to privacy – we will only share information with people on a need to know basis. We appreciate, for example, that young carers will not discuss their family situation unless they feel comfortable. The young person’s caring role will be acknowledged and respected.
5. Treat young carers in a sensitive and child-centred way, upholding confidentiality whilst considering a whole family approach.
6. Ensure young carers can access all available support services in school and will inform young carers of the specialist support available to them from Swindon Young Carers Service. The school will refer a prospective young carer to Swindon Young Carers Service with the consent of the young person and parent/s.
7. Follow child protection procedures regarding any young carer at risk of significant harm due to an inappropriate caring role. For example, a request for support will be made if we are concerned that the young carer may be the victim of neglect, abuse, cruelty or at risk of immediate or significant harm, or to request an assessment.
8. Promote discussion and learning in all areas of curriculum to facilitate fuller understanding, acceptance and respect for the issues surrounding illness, disability and caring.
9. Put young carers’ family in touch with the local Young Carers Service and other organisations who can offer support e.g. BeU, Step and Barnardos
10. Be accessible to parents who have mobility and communication difficulties and involve them in parents’ evenings and other school activities.
11. Use feedback from young carers and their families to inform our polices and practices.

East Wichel Primary School recognises that flexibility and adaptation of school arrangements may be needed when responding to the needs of young carers.

Available provision includes (but is not restricted to):

1. East Wichel Primary School will support young carers to get home/hospital in cases of emergency.
2. We will encourage effective use of the PSHE curriculum, to explore the rights of children, the roles and responsibilities of young carers, and the challenges they face. We will use PSHE lessons to promote positive images of disability, challenging stereotypes and discrimination. We will promote discussion regarding caring and issues surrounding illness and disability, to promote a fuller understanding, acceptance and respect.
3. Adopt a healthy attitude to different illnesses to try and reduce stigmas attached to illnesses such as Mental Health problems and disabilities.
4. Avoid stigmatisation or labelling of pupils who are carers and provide guidance on preventing bullying.
5. Treat a disclosure with sensitivity. Discuss with the child, depending upon their age what support they would like, approaching the parent/carer with the child’s permission.
6. Include thinking about sensitivities and differences around cultural needs including refugees.
7. Provide specific staff training.

Policy Date - November 2024