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    • Young Carers

    Young Carers

    You are not alone. We are here to support you.

    At Sparken Hill Academy, we recognise that some of our children have caring responsibilities at home. Being a young carer can mean a child has extra things to think about alongside school, friendships, play and learning.

    We want every child in our school community to feel safe, valued, listened to and included, whatever their circumstances at home. Our Community Team is here to provide a safe and welcoming space for children and families to talk, ask for help and find the right support.

    You do not have to wait until things become difficult before speaking to us. If caring responsibilities are affecting your child or family in any way, please get in touch.

    What is a young carer?

    A young carer is a child or young person who provides care, help or support to someone in their family because that person has an illness, disability, mental health difficulty, addiction or another need for support. A young carer might help with:

    Jobs around the home Cooking and shopping Looking after brothers or sisters Helping someone get ready or move around Remembering appointments or medication Emotional support and reassurance Keeping someone company Helping someone communicate Worrying about or checking on someone Responsibilities other children may not have

    Sometimes caring responsibilities are easy to recognise. Sometimes they are much less obvious.

    A child does not have to be doing lots of practical caring tasks to be a young carer. Some children may not even realise that the help they give at home means they are a young carer.

    How might being a young carer affect a child?

    Every child and family is different.

    The positives

    For some children, caring can be a positive experience. They may develop:

    Empathy Responsibility Resilience Independence A strong sense of family

    The challenges

    Caring can also make other parts of life harder. A child may sometimes:

    • feel worried about someone at home
    • feel tired or find it hard to concentrate
    • feel responsible for things that are hard to manage
    • find it harder to attend school or arrive on time
    • worry about leaving a family member at home
    • miss out on clubs, friendships or time to play
    • find homework difficult to complete
    • feel embarrassed or different from their friends
    • have changes in their mood or wellbeing
    • feel they need to be the 'grown-up' at home
    • find it hard to talk about what is happening

    Children do not always tell adults when they are finding things difficult. That is why identifying young carers early, listening to them and making sure they know where to get help is so important to us.

    How we support young carers at Sparken Hill

    We want our school to be a place where young carers feel understood, supported and able to enjoy school life. Our Community Team plays an important role in helping children and families access the right support. We can:

    Listen

    Provide a trusted adult who will listen to your child without judgement and give them space to talk.

    Support emotional wellbeing

    Help children understand and manage their feelings and worries, support with any attendance difficulties, and work with families to find practical ways forward.

    Help children feel included

    Support young carers to take part in school life, friendships, clubs, activities and opportunities wherever possible.

    Work with families

    Talk with parents and carers about what is happening at home and help identify what support may be available.

    Connect families with services

    Where appropriate, signpost or work alongside services such as Young Carers Notts, Nottinghamshire County Council and other professionals.

    Listen to children's voices

    Make sure children's views, feelings and experiences are considered when we plan support.

    Recognise strengths

    Celebrate the kindness, empathy, resilience and independence many young carers develop, while recognising that children should not manage adult responsibilities on their own.

    Removing barriers to learning and wellbeing

    Every child comes to school with different experiences and circumstances. If caring responsibilities are affecting a child's attendance, punctuality, emotional wellbeing, friendships, concentration or ability to take part in school life, we want to know.

    We work with children and families, rather than making assumptions about what they need. Where extra support is needed, we will work with families and other professionals to find the right help and reduce barriers to learning and wellbeing.

    Our aim is simple

    Every child should feel that they belong, that they matter and that there are adults who will help them when things feel difficult.

    How can parents and carers talk to us?

    You don't need to have all the answers before you contact us. If you think your child may be a young carer, or you are worried that caring is affecting their wellbeing, attendance, friendships or learning, please speak to us.

    Our Community Team

    Karen (Designated Safeguarding Lead), Deb (Designated Safeguarding Lead), Claire and Helen

    Phone: 01909 534060 or 07540 686381 (Karen)

    Email: kgardiner@sparkenhill.com or dwhite@sparkenhill.com

    You can also speak to:

    • your child's class teacher or Teaching Assistant
    • our other Designated Safeguarding Leads, Mr Lilley and Mrs Phoenix
    • any member of staff your child feels comfortable talking to

    You will be listened to. We understand that family circumstances can be complicated. Our role is to listen, understand and help, not to judge. We will involve you and your child in discussions about support wherever possible.

    Young Carers Notts

    Young Carers Notts is a free and confidential service supporting young carers aged 5 to 17 across Nottinghamshire and Nottingham City. They give information, advice and support, and the chance to meet other children who understand what life is like with caring responsibilities. Support can include:

    Information and advice One-to-one support Group support Health and wellbeing support Activities and social events Meeting other young carers Support plans Young Carer ID cards Young Carer Travel Cards Help connecting with other services

    Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Email youngcarers@tuvida.org or visit www.youngcarersnotts.co.uk to find out more and make a referral.

    Young Carer's Assessments

    Children who have a caring role have the right to have their needs considered. A Young Carer's Assessment looks at a child's caring responsibilities and how these may be affecting their wellbeing, education, friendships, hobbies and family life, and what support could help.

    Our Community Team can help you understand what support may be available. You can also contact Nottinghamshire County Council directly about an assessment on 0300 500 80 80.

    A message for our children

    Are you helping to look after someone at home?

    Maybe you:

    • help your mum, dad, brother, sister or another family member
    • help with jobs around the house
    • look after your brothers or sisters
    • help someone who is unwell or finds some things difficult
    • listen to someone when they are upset
    • worry about someone when you are at school
    • sometimes feel tired, worried or like you have lots to think about

    If any of these sound like you, you might be a young carer. And that's okay.

    Being a young carer can be something to feel proud of. You may be kind, caring, responsible and good at helping other people. But you don't have to manage everything on your own. You are still a child.

    You deserve time to:

    Learn Play Have fun See your friends Try new things Talk about your feelings Have time for yourself

    If you would like to talk to someone, you can speak to your teacher, our Community Team or another adult in school you trust. You don't have to know exactly what to say. You could simply say:

    "I'm worried about things at home and I'd like to talk to someone."

    We will listen.

    Remember

    You are important. Your feelings matter. You don't have to deal with everything alone. There are people who can help. You belong here.

    If you think you or your child may be a young carer, please talk to us. Our Community Team is here to help you find the right support for your family.

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