Young Carers
Meeting the needs of Young Carers & their Families
Westfield Academy is committed to develop provision for young carers and their families.
We will capture the commitment by widening our provision, building on the needs of the young people, and better meet young carers’ needs by reviewing our provision for young carers with a view to ultimately achieving best practice.
How we will achieve this:
- The whole school is committed to meeting the needs of young carers so that they can attend and enjoy school in the same way as other students to achieve their full potential.
- We have appointed a designated Young Carers’ School Lead (Ms Broom) with responsibility for young carers and their families. Students and families will be made aware of the identity of this lead and how to contact them to access support.
- The school only shares information with professionals and agencies on a need-to-know basis to support pupils and their families.
- We will actively seek feedback and ideas from young carers and their families to shape and improve support.
- The school has an effective referral system and strong partnership in place with relevant external agencies, including referral to Young Carer agencies.
- We will strive to achieve best practice for students and families and be committed to developing provisions for young carers and their families.
A young carer is someone, under the age of 18, who is caring, unpaid, for a family member or a friend who is ill, disabled, or has a mental health problem or addiction. They often take on practical and/or emotional caring responsibilities that would normally be expected of an adult. Research suggests there are at least 800,000 young carers in the UK but many do not realise they are a young carer.
We know that young carers may need a little extra support to enjoy and do well at school. We are committed to ensuring that all students who are young carers are identified, and supported effectively.
If your child/ren identify as Young Carers please complete this Google Form (if you haven't done so already).
Students can access information in school via a noticeboard in the upper school corridor and their student desktop via the student safeguarding information icon whereby they can contact the Young Carers Leads via google form.
There is also a Young Carers Lunch Club Drop-in every half term.
If you wish to make contact with the Young Carer Leads (Ms Broom, Mrs Coles & Mrs Hooper) please email: youngcarers@westfieldacademy.co.uk
