Whole school approach to young carers in schools

Schools have a statutory duty to deliver Relationships, Sex and Health Education. There are many areas which relate directly to young carers' experiences as well as areas which all children and young people (CYP) should be aware of.

Teaching about families requires sensitive and well-judged teaching based on knowledge of CYP and their circumstances. Care needs to be taken to ensure that there is no stigmatisation of CYP based on their home circumstances and needs, to reflect sensitively that some CYP may have a different structure of support around them.

Have a look at our 'Dos and Don'ts' for teachers! (PDF, 142 KB)

Primary school

By the end of primary school, students should know:

• Relationships education:
  • That others' families, either in school or in the wider world, sometimes look different from their family, but that they should respect those differences and know that other children's families are also characterised by love and care.
  • How to recognise if family relationships are making them feel unhappy or unsafe, and how to seek help or advice from others if needed.
  • About different types of bullying (including cyberbullying), the impact of bullying, responsibilities of bystanders (primarily reporting bullying to an adult) and how to get help.
  • What a stereotype is, and how stereotypes can be unfair, negative or destructive.
  • How to ask for advice or help for themselves or others, and to keep trying until they are heard.
• Health education:
  • Isolation and loneliness can affect children and that it is very important for children to discuss their feelings with an adult and seek support.
  • That bullying (including cyberbullying) has a negative and often lasting impact on mental wellbeing.
  • Where and how to seek support (including recognising the triggers for seeking support), including whom in school they should speak to if they are worried about their own or someone else's mental wellbeing or ability to control their emotions (including issues arising online).
  • How to make a clear and efficient call to emergency services if necessary.

High quality resources - Primary

• Caring Together has produced an animated film for CYP aged 4-8. This has been designed to raise awareness of young carers and can be used in assemblies or circle time. It is supported by a resource pack for schools (EYSF and Key Stage 1) to help CYP understand who young carers are and to encourage them to be more open about talking to someone if they have worries.
• Carers Matter Norfolk provides a video for young 8-18 year olds, written by young carers themselves, entitled 'We Are Young Carers'.

Secondary school

By the end of secondary school, students should know:

• Relationships and sex education:
  • How to determine whether other children, adults or sources of information are trustworthy, judge when a family, friend, intimate or other relationship is unsafe (and to recognise this in others' relationships), how to seek help or advice, including reporting concerns about others, if needed.
  • How stereotypes, in particular stereotypes based on sex, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or disability, can cause damage (for example, how they might normalise non-consensual behaviour or encourage prejudice).
  • About different types of bullying (including cyberbullying), the impact of bullying, responsibilities of bystanders to report bullying and how and where to get help.
• Health education:
  • How to talk about their emotions accurately and sensitively, using appropriate vocabulary.
  • That happiness is linked to being connected to others.
  • How to recognise the early signs of mental wellbeing concerns.
  • Life-saving skills, including how to administer CPR (after aged 12).

High quality resources - Secondary

• Carers Matter Norfolk provides a video for young 8-18 year olds, written by young carers themselves, entitled 'We Are Young Carers'.
• The NHS video entitled 'Out of the Woods' is intended to raise awareness of the challenges and issues faced by young carers. It would be appropriate to share with secondary school aged CYP.
• Young Carers in Schools resources can be used to proactively raise the awareness of young carers and includes assembly activities, lesson activities and an exemplar newsletter article.

Consider signing up to Young Carers Alliance to access up to date resources and information. Contact youngcarersalliance@carers.org to join the mailing list.