Whole school approach to young carers in schools

Young carers must be acknowledged across key policies and documents. Key actions include:

• Develop a young carers policy which specifies in detail how you will identify and address young carers' needs. This can either take the form of a new policy developed specifically for young carers, or the revision of an existing policy to include young carers, such as your inclusion policy.
  • The Young Carers Alliance have developed some examples of young carer policies.
  • The Carers Trust and The Children's Society have developed a Young Carers policy checklist.

  Top tip! Start by asking the child or young person (CYP) what challenges they face at school as a young carer, or what would make balancing school and their caring role easier and write this into policy!

• Revise existing policy and documents to acknowledge and reflect young carers' needs explicitly:
  • Accessibility policy:
    • Demonstrate an understanding of the needs of families of young carers by ensuring the school is accessible and welcoming to parents with disabilities and/or illness, offering additional support to enable them to attend parent's evenings or other events.
    • Offer support to remove any communication barriers with families so they can fully engage with the education of their child.
    • Consider how best to support those families who find it difficult to escort younger children to their school or setting.
  • Anti-bullying policy:
    • Identify young carers as a group who may be more likely to experience bullying so that staff are aware and can offer support if they see a situation occurring.
    • Specify the actions that the school is taking to develop and maintain a positive ethos where young carers and their families are respected and valued.
    • The Anti-Bullying Alliance provides free online CPD and guidance on protecting young carers from bullying.
  • Attendance policy:
    • Acknowledge the impact that caring may have on attendance and the supportive actions that may be taken in these cases.
  • Behaviour / relationships policy:
    • Acknowledge that the responsibilities that a young carer has may impact on their feelings and therefore the behaviours they display at school.
    • If behaviours that challenge or harm occur, ensure needs, feelings and experiences linked to young carers' roles and responsibilities are considered when planning how to support.
  • Mobile phone policy:
    • Be flexible, where appropriate, for example allowing young carers to call home during breaks and lunchtimes so as to reduce any worry they may have about a family member.
• Consider how you will build CYP voice into the development and review process of your policies!

Links to relevant guidance and legislation

The Department for Education offers this legislation that has relevance to young carers:

• Keeping children safe in education (DfE)

You should reflect on existing legislation, including but not limited to:

• Children and Families Act 2014 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Care Act 2014 (legislation.gov.uk)
• The Equality Act 2010 (legislation.gov.uk) and Equality Act 2010: advice for schools (DfE)

You also need to consider this guidance from the DfE:

• Education inspection framework (EIF)
• Teachers' Standards