Young Carers
Supporting our Young Carer community
At Hadleigh High School, we are proud to support pupils who have caring responsibilities at home.
Being a young carer can bring experiences that are different from those of other young people. Caring for a parent, sibling, relative or another person can involve practical tasks, emotional support or responsibilities that can sometimes make everyday life more challenging.
Young carers often develop many valuable strengths, including empathy, compassion, resilience, responsibility, independence and maturity.
However, caring responsibilities can sometimes affect a young person’s education, friendships, wellbeing, attendance, concentration or ability to take part in activities outside school.
We want every young carer at Hadleigh High School to feel understood, supported, valued and able to achieve their potential.
Our support is based around the individual needs of each pupil. We recognise that every young carer and every family is different, and that not every young person will need the same type or level of support.
What is a Young Carer?
A young carer is a child or young person under the age of 18 who provides regular unpaid care or support to a family member or someone close to them who has a physical or mental health condition, disability, illness or another need for care.
A young carer might support a parent, brother or sister, grandparent or another relative. They may also care for someone who does not live in the same household.
Caring can take many different forms. A young carer may:
- help with cooking, cleaning or shopping;
- look after younger brothers or sisters;
- provide emotional support to someone who is struggling;
- help someone with mobility or physical tasks;
- help with medication or appointments;
- support someone with personal care;
- help a family member communicate or access services; or
- take on additional responsibilities around the home.
Not every young carer will see themselves as a carer. Some may simply feel that they are helping their family or doing what needs to be done.
How do I tell Hadleigh High School that my child is a Young Carer?
We encourage families to let us know if their child has caring responsibilities, even if they are currently doing well at school.
There are two simple ways to let us know:
Email us
You can email support@hadleighhigh.net to let us know that your child is a young carer.
You can include as much or as little information as you feel comfortable sharing. Let us know if there is anything you would like us to be aware of or any support you feel your child may benefit from.
Update your child's Arbor profile
You can also update your child's information directly through Arbor.
When updating your child's profile, please tick the Young Carer box to let us know that they have caring responsibilities.
If you have already told us that your child is a young carer, you do not need to contact us again unless your circumstances change.
Knowing that a pupil is a young carer helps us to understand their circumstances and make sure that appropriate support is available.
Why tell us?
Knowing that a pupil is a young carer helps us to:
- understand their circumstances;
- provide appropriate pastoral and wellbeing support;
- recognise when caring responsibilities may be affecting school life;
- consider how we can support attendance, punctuality and learning;
- provide a trusted person for pupils to talk to;
- help young carers manage the balance between caring, school and their own wellbeing;
- support pupils during particularly challenging periods at home;
- help with transitions between year groups and into the next stage of education;
- connect pupils with other young carers; and
- signpost families to specialist support and local services.
Early communication allows us to be proactive rather than waiting until a young person is struggling.
If your family circumstances change, please let us know.
Support at Hadleigh High School
We have a dedicated member of staff who acts as a point of contact for our Young Carers and their families.
They provide a friendly and consistent person for pupils to talk to, help young carers access support within school and signpost families to specialist organisations where appropriate.
Pupils can talk to us about their caring role, worries at home, schoolwork, attendance, friendships, wellbeing or anything else that may be affecting them.
You do not need to wait until there is a problem before asking for support.
Young Carers Drop-In
Our Young Carers Drop-In provides a relaxed and informal opportunity for young carers to spend time together and access support.
It is a welcoming space where pupils can:
- meet other young carers;
- chat and share experiences;
- take some time away from the pressures of the school day;
- make new friendships;
- talk about things happening at home;
- ask for advice or support;
- catch up with a member of staff; or
- simply spend time with other pupils who may understand their experiences.
There is no requirement to be experiencing a problem to attend.
Young carers can sometimes feel that they are the only person in their friendship group or class who has responsibilities at home. Meeting other young people with similar experiences can help pupils feel less alone and more connected.
The aim of our Young Carers provision is to create a supportive community within Hadleigh High School where young carers feel recognised, listened to and valued.
Supporting learning and wellbeing
We understand that caring responsibilities can sometimes make it more difficult for young people to manage schoolwork, attend regularly, arrive on time, concentrate in lessons or take part in activities.
If caring responsibilities are affecting a pupil’s school life, we will work with the young person and their family to understand what would help.
Depending on individual circumstances, this may include:
- pastoral support and regular check-ins;
- help with organising schoolwork;
- support with attendance or punctuality;
- access to wellbeing support;
- a trusted member of staff to talk to;
- opportunities to access support during the school day; and
- signposting to specialist young carer services.
We will always aim to understand the circumstances behind a difficulty rather than making assumptions about a young person.
Young Carer and Family Events
Throughout the school year, we will provide opportunities for young carers to connect with others and take part in activities.
These opportunities may include social activities, wellbeing activities and events designed to give young carers time to relax, have fun and meet other young people with similar experiences.
Details of upcoming opportunities will be communicated through Arbor.
As our programme may develop and change from year to year, families are encouraged to look out for Arbor communications for the latest information.
You are not alone
Being a young carer can sometimes feel difficult or isolating, but young carers are not alone.
Talking to someone at school can be the first step towards getting the right support. You do not have to explain everything at once, and you do not have to wait until things become difficult.
If you think you might be a young carer, or if you are a parent or carer of a young person who has caring responsibilities, please speak to us.
Additional support for Young Carers and families
There are organisations that provide specialist advice, activities and support for young carers and their families.
Suffolk Family Carers
Suffolk Family Carers provides local support, advice and services for unpaid carers, including support for young carers. Suffolk County Council also directs young carers and families towards local young carer support through its carers information pages.
Suffolk County Council – Young Carers Support
Suffolk County Council: Support for carers
Suffolk County Council provides information about support available to young carers and links to local and national organisations.
Carers Trust
Carers Trust – Young Carers Support
Carers Trust provides information, advice and practical support for young carers and young adult carers. Its website also includes a tool to help families find local carer services.
The Children's Society
The Children's Society – Young Carers
The Children’s Society provides information and support for young carers and works with young carer services across the country. Young people can also use its website to find local support and advice.
NHS – Being a Young Carer: Your Rights
NHS – Being a young carer: your rights
The NHS provides information about what it means to be a young carer, the support available and young carers' rights.