Young Carers
As a school we recognise and understand that some pupils may be taking on caring roles at home. We strive to create a safe and nurturing environment to support our pupils to achieve the best they can.
In accordance with this, we have developed systems in order to support young carers at the school. A young carer is someone who is under the age of 18 who helps to look after someone in their family, a friend, who is ill, disabled,has a mental health condition or misuses drugs or alcohol. Young carers are at particular risk of under-performing in education and so it is important that we support young carers in order to fulfil their potential whilst allowing them to manage their responsibilities or get the support they require.
There are a number of ways in which we support the young carers who require the extra support. School can play an important role in supporting young carers as we recognise that it can be a place to forget responsibilities and socialise with their peers; on the other hand, it can be a place of additional pressures. As a school we aim to alleviate these pressures in a variety of ways.
We are able to refer pupils to Young Carers MK, who specifically work with young carers across Milton Keynes to ensure they have access to the resources they require and respite when needed. Whilst we have systems in place, we also know that every pupil is unique and has individual needs. Therefore, if you are aware of any young carers, or are a young carer yourself, please speak to Miss Brassington who is available to talk about what steps can be taken in order to support your unique situation.
The school actively seeks feedback from young carers and families to shape and improve support.
The school has designated leads for young carers and their families:
The Young Carers Support Coordinator is Miss E. Brassington
Designated Safeguarding Lead is Miss E. Harris
If you would like to find out more information or access support for young carers then some of the websites and organisations below may be able to help:
· NHS Social Care and Support Guide
· Young Minds – This includes access to messengers and phone lines for direct support
