At Padgate Academy, we recognise that some of our students have caring responsibilities for family members and are therefore classed as young carers. Recent data suggests that as many as one in five children are young carers, although the true figure may be higher as many families do not realise that their child meets the criteria of a young carer.
We are committed to ensuring that all young carers are identified and supported appropriately. We understand that balancing education with caring responsibilities can be challenging, and we aim to provide the support and adjustments needed to help every young carer thrive both academically and personally.
Who are Young Carers?
A young carer is a child or young person who provides care, support or assistance to a family member who has a physical disability, long-term illness, mental health condition, substance misuse issue, or additional support needs. This may include caring for a parent, carer, sibling, grandparent or another family member.
Most young carers look after one of their parents or care for a sibling, with many taking on significant responsibilities at home.
A Young Carer May:
- Provide emotional support
- Prepare meals
- Administer or manage medication
- Complete shopping and household tasks
- Help with cleaning and other practical responsibilities
- Look after younger siblings, including taking them to and from school
- Provide physical care
- Provide personal care
Support for Young Carers at Padgate Academy
At Padgate Academy, we are proud to have two dedicated Young Carer Champions: Ms Burns and Mrs Lawson. Their role is to advocate for young carers and ensure that they feel seen, heard and supported within the school community
Our Young Carer Champions work closely with students to understand their individual circumstances and identify any support that may be helpful. This may include creating an individual young carer profile, which outlines their caring responsibilities and any adjustments that can be made in school to support them. Examples of support may include:
- Flexible approaches to homework and deadlines
- Additional pastoral support
- Opportunities to check in with staff
- Access to lunchtime drop-ins and support sessions
- Signposting to external support services
We also provide opportunities for young carers to connect with one another through activities and events designed to promote wellbeing, confidence and a sense of belonging.
Identifying Young Carers
If you or a family member has a disability, long-term illness, mental health condition, or substance misuse issue, and your child helps with caring responsibilities at home, they may be classed as a young carer.
We encourage parents, carers and students to let us know if this applies to them so that we can ensure the appropriate support is in place. Any information shared will be treated sensitively and confidentially.
Warrington Carers Hub
We work closely with Warrington Carers Hub, a specialist service that offers valuable support to both children and adults with caring responsibilities. Where appropriate, and with consent from both the young person and their parent/carer, we can make referrals to the service to ensure families receive additional support.
For more information about the support available, please visit the Warrington Carers Hub website or speak to one of our Young Carer Champions.
