Young Carers
At Bignold Primary & Nursery School, we recognise that some children take on caring responsibilities at home. These children are known as young carers, and we are committed to making sure they feel understood, supported and able to thrive in school.
What is a Young Carer?
A young carer is a child or young person who helps to care for a family member who may have:
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A physical disability
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A learning disability
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A long-term illness
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Mental health difficulties
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Issues with substance misuse
Caring responsibilities can look different for every child. This might include helping with personal care, looking after siblings, offering emotional support, helping around the house, or worrying about someone at home.
Not all young carers see themselves as carers – they often just see it as part of family life.
Why Young Carers May Need Extra Support
Being a young carer can sometimes affect a child’s:
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Tiredness and concentration
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Attendance or punctuality
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Emotional wellbeing
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Ability to complete homework
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Confidence or friendships
At Bignold, we understand these challenges and aim to remove barriers so children can enjoy school and achieve their best.
How We Support Young Carers at Bignold
We take a whole-school, caring approach to supporting young carers. Support is always personalised and handled sensitively.
Identifying Young Carers
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We work closely with families to identify young carers early
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Information may come from parents, children, staff or external professionals
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Our safeguarding team oversees support and ensures children get the help they need
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We train all staff and ensure they are given information about young carers
Emotional and Pastoral Support
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A trusted adult in school who children can talk to
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Check-ins to see how they are feeling
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Space and time to talk if things feel overwhelming
Support in the Classroom
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Understanding from staff if a child is tired or distracted
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Flexibility with homework where needed
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Support to catch up on learning
Attendance and Wellbeing
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Sensitive handling of attendance and punctuality
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Support with routines and transitions
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A focus on building confidence and resilience
Working With Families and Other Services
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Regular communication with parents and carers
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Signposting to local young carers’ services and support networks
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Working with external agencies where appropriate
Our Commitment
At Bignold, we believe that no child should feel alone with their worries. Young carers are not defined by their responsibilities, and we want every child to feel:
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Safe
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Valued
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Supported
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Proud of who they are
Our approach reflects our school motto:
“Proud of who we are. Rooted in our community. Ready for who we’ll become.”
Mrs Wands is the Young Carers Lead at Bignold Primary School. Ms Baker is the member of the school leadership team who oversees Young Carers. Mrs Wands holds regular drop-in sessions for our Young Carers in school.
If you think your child may be a young carer, or if your family’s circumstances change, please speak to us. We are always happy to listen and help.
You can contact:
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Your child’s class teacher
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A member of the safeguarding team
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The school office, who can pass on your message confidentially