Stanton Bridge is committed to meeting the needs of young carers so that they can attend and enjoy school in the same way as other pupils and achieve their full potential. We are aware of the important role they play with their families’ lives and the additional responsibilities this places on them.
We have raised awareness through assemblies and classroom lessons. We provide drop in sessions for all pupils including young carers, so they can discuss any issues with a member of staff. All staff are aware of the referral procedure and have been trained on how to identify young carers. Young carers have the opportunity to access ‘bubble time’, which is a self referral system, where pupils get the opportunity to discuss their concerns or positives on a one to on basis.
The school has a designated Young Carers’ School lead with responsibilities for young carers and their families:
If you would like further information on referral system or information on young carers, please contact Mr Thuhel or you can contact Young Carers directly on 02476 101040
There are a ton of resources online for you to utilise in school and if you would like to do anything on the day with your Young Carers. Maybe an assembly/young carer session themed around mental health or linking in with local services - please do let us know if you plan anything!
Here are some links you may find useful for young carer+mental health information:
Not only young carers- but it is important to be mindful of your own mental health and of those around you, in particular in the workplace:
If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Thuhel for more information.
Young Carers Bronze Award
April 2019
Stanton Bridge Primary School has been given a Bronze award for their work to make sure students don’t miss out on an education because they are young carers.
The Young Carers in Schools programme helps primary and secondary schools improve outcomes for young carers and celebrates good practice through the Young Carers in Schools Award.
Young carers are responsible for emotional, practical or physical care for a parent, sibling or other family member who has a physical disability, mental health issue or substance misuse issue. The 2011 Census statistics revealed that there are just over 166,000 young carers in England, but research reveals that this is just the tip of the iceberg. The true figure could be closer to 700,000 young carers in England, equivalent to one in 12 school children many of whom are unrecognised and unsupported.
Research carried out by Carers Trust and The Children's Society shows that, on average, young carers miss or cut short 48 school days a year and often have lower levels of self-confidence, mental wellbeing and significantly lower educational attainment at GCSE level, because of their caring role. Ofsted's Common Inspection Framework states that inspectors will look at how well schools support young carers. While some schools are doing this really well, others struggle and this causes real problems for young carers.
To help schools support young carers, the programme offers a step-by-step guide for leaders, teachers and non-teaching staff, with practical tools designed to make it as easy as possible for schools. Staff can also receive training through webinars and events and the programme also features a newsletter each term highlighting relevant policy developments, spotlighting good practice and giving updates on the programme’s successes.
To achieve their Bronze Award Stanton Bridge has demonstrated that it supports young carers in many ways, including homework clubs and drop-in sessions with a member of staff who is responsible for this vulnerable group of pupils. Vital information about how to identify young carers is made available to all school staff, and noticeboards and the school webpage let students and their families know where to go for help.
Young Carers Awards Night July 2019
We were honoured to receive the award of Caring School of the year which highlights the amazing work we do for our young Carers and pupils. We believe caring for all our pupils and community is an important aspect of our vision and ethos.
Below are pictures of the awards night.