At Gordano School, we understand that some students have extra responsibilities at home, helping to care for a family member. We are committed to making sure young carers feel supported, understood and able to succeed.

What is a young carer? 

A young carer is someone under 18 who helps look after a family member. This might involve practical help, emotional support or caring for siblings. Sometimes, these responsibilities can affect school life. 

Are you a young carer? 

You might be a young carer if you: 

• help look after someone who is ill, disabled or struggling with their mental health 

• help with things like cooking, cleaning, giving medication or translating 

• look after younger brothers or sisters regularly 

• worry about someone at home when you are at school 

• feel tired or find it hard to keep up with schoolwork because of responsibilities at home 

• don’t always have time to complete homework or revise 

If any of this sounds like you, you’re not alone and we are here to help. 

Our approach 

At Gordano, we take a whole-school approach to supporting young carers. 

We aim to: 

• recognise and support students early 

• remove barriers to learning 

• support attendance and wellbeing 

• make sure every student can achieve their potential 

Young carers are recognised as a potentially vulnerable group, and support is closely linked to our safeguarding systems. 

How we identify young carers 

Students may be identified through: 

• speaking to a member of staff 

• parents or carers contacting the school 

• staff noticing signs and raising concerns 

• safeguarding or pastoral processes 

This helps us make sure the right support is in place as early as possible. 

Support in school 

Pastoral support 

• Regular check-ins with tutors or pastoral staff 

• A trusted adult students can go to 

• Support with wellbeing and worries 

Learning and homework 

• Flexibility with homework where needed 

• Help with organisation and deadlines 

• Consideration during tests or assessments 

Attendance 

• Close monitoring of attendance 

• Early support where there are concerns 

• Working with families to remove barriers 

Tracking 

• Ongoing monitoring of attendance, progress and wellbeing 

• Regular review to make sure support is effective 

Staff awareness 

• Staff are supported to recognise young carers 

• Information is shared so students are understood in lessons 

Young Carers Group 

We are developing a Young Carers Group at Gordano, meeting termly. 

This will: 

• provide a space to talk and share experiences 

• help students connect with others 

• promote wellbeing 

• give students a voice in shaping support 

Working with external agencies 

We work with specialist services to provide additional support where needed. 

Students may be referred to Alliance Homes Young Carers Service for: 

• one-to-one support 

• advice and guidance 

• activities and opportunities 

🔗 https://www.alliancehomes.org.uk/support/support-for-carers/support-for-young-carers/