No young carer left behind: Supporting children in our schools
By Kiersten Browne, Young Carers in Schools Programme lead at North Tyneside Carers’ Centre
The Carers Trust revealed earlier this month that three in five young carers spend at least three hours a day caring, limiting time for homework, seeing friends or hobbies.
According to polling by Opinium, 44% of young carers spend 3-4 hours a day on their caring role. Among 8-11 year olds, almost half (46%) spend 3-4 hours a day caring.
Government research shows that, on average, young carers miss one month of school per year, compared to 13 days for a child without a caring responsibility.
At North Tyneside Carers’ Centre we have been working with young carers, North Tyneside Early Help, and Education North Tyneside, to create a new programme to support young carers in education, the Young Carers in Schools Programme.
It is designed to help schools identify and support young carers so that they don’t miss out on their education. Young carers are children and young people who provide care for a family member with a physical or mental health condition, disability, or substance misuse issue.
We know that many young carers remain hidden in schools. They may not self-identify due to fear, stigma, or simply not recognising their role as a carer. Without support, they are more likely to experience poor mental health, struggle academically, and feel isolated from their peers.
It supports schools to:
- Identify young carers early – making sure no child slips through the net.
Provide practical support – giving young carers the tools and help they need to succeed both in and outside of school. - Raise awareness among staff and pupils – ensuring schools understand the unique experiences of young carers.
- Create safe spaces – where young carers can share their experiences and know they are supported.
- Boost school attendance by addressing barriers linked to their caring responsibilities.
The programme also provides dedicated support for education professionals working with young carers. By offering a specialist point of contact, schools benefit from ongoing professional guidance through continuous professional development opportunities.
The Young Carers in Schools Programme Lead serves as a reliable liaison, ensuring staff have access to expert advice, resources, and consistent communication throughout the implementation process.
One of the programme’s strengths is its flexibility. It can be tailored to meet the specific needs of each school, whether you’re just beginning to explore how to support young carers or looking to enhance existing provision.
Schools participating in the programme will have access to a wide range of support and resources, including:
- Staff training, including an ongoing programme of training
- Assemblies to raise awareness of young carers
- Visual resources to support identification and engagement of young carers
- Lesson plans focused on raising awareness of young carers and the rights of young carers
- Monitoring protocols to track progress and wellbeing of young carers
- Workshops for both staff and pupils to improve their understanding of young carers
- A peer support programme to build a young carers support network of peers.
- Monitoring and evaluation materials to help schools measure the impact of their pastoral support.
By taking part in the Young Carers in Schools Programme, schools can make a real difference in the lives of these young people, making sure they are recognised, supported, and given the opportunity to thrive.
This will help them to get their education and achieve their goals and aspirations.
If you are an education professional looking to find out more about the programme, get in touch on 0191 249 6480 or enquiries@ntcarers.co.uk