At Meadowbank we acknowledge that children identified as Young Carers may need extra support to ensure equal access to education and opportunities through their school life. We are committed to identifying and supporting those children and their families.
A young carer is someone under the age of 18 who provides care to another family member. The level of care they provide would usually be undertaken by an adult and as a result of this they take a level of responsibility that is inappropriate to their age and development. This is likely to have a significant impact on their childhood experiences.
The person or persons that they look after will have one or more of the following
- Physical/sensory or learning disabilities
- Chronic illness
- Mental Health problems
- substance misuse
They may also be taking on a caring role if they are
- Growing up with a disabled sibling
- Coping with illness in the wider family
- In a family where there has been a recent serious or mental illness diagnosed
Please come and talk to us if you think your child may be a young carer. School will also use these signs as indicators
- Missing school/arriving late
- Tiredness/ hunger
- Isolation/limited social skills
- Behavioural problems
- Underachieving
- Parents may have little or no contact with school, be unable to attend parents evening, review days or social activities
