Young Carers

Young Carers

At Coombe Hill Junior School we recognise the important role that young carers play within their families and we are committed to supporting them so they can thrive both in and out of school. We want every young carer to feel understood, valued and able to share their experiences in a safe and supportive environment.

What is a young carer

A young carer is a child or young person who helps to care for a family member or someone close to them who cannot manage without support. This may be because of illness, disability, a mental health difficulty or an addiction.  Caring responsibilities can vary from practical tasks such as helping at home to providing emotional support and reassurance to an adult or sibling.

Some pupils may not see themselves as young carers, yet the responsibilities they carry can have a real impact on their wellbeing, school life and friendships. By working closely with families we can identify the right support at the right time.

How we support young carers at Coombe Hill

We understand that young carers may experience tiredness, worry, emotional stress or challenges with punctuality and attendance. To help with this we offer:

• access to our ELSA team for emotional support, with some pupils receiving regular one to one sessions

• a small group club where young carers can meet others with similar experiences, share worries and take part in creative activities

• a named trusted adult who checks in regularly to ensure pupils feel safe, supported and able to manage their day

• flexible approaches where needed to help pupils remain engaged with learning and feel confident in asking for help
  
  

Working with families

We encourage families to let us know if their child may be a young carer. This helps us understand the pressures a child might be facing and allows us to put support in place quickly. Information shared with the inclusion team is treated sensitively.

Links with Kingston Young Carers

We work closely with Kingston Young Carers who offer clubs, trips, activities and specialist support for children and young people with caring responsibilities. We encourage all young carers at Coombe Hill to join so they can access this wider network of help and benefit from meeting others who understand their situation.

Our commitment

We are proud of the resilience and compassion shown by our young carers. At Coombe Hill we will always do our best to ensure they feel seen, heard and supported in every aspect of school life.

If you think your child may be a young carer, or if you would like more information about the support available, please contact the inclusion team.