Supporting young carers
Most schools will have children and young people on roll who have caring responsibilities for a parent, other relative or sibling. Some of these will be known to the school, but very often young carers can remain hidden and can be difficult to identify.
Schools have a duty to consider the health and wellbeing of all pupils and they can do this in a number of ways. Training for all staff, in the identification of young carers and the approaches that can be put in place to support them can make a positive impact on young carers and their attainment and achievement.
The current Wiltshire Healthy Schools criteria ask schools to provide evidence of how they are meeting the needs of young carers, including having in place a young carers policy.
Young Carer Friendly Award (from 2023)
Education settings that demonstrate good practice for the identification and support of young carers in schools can now apply for the Young Carer Friendly Award.
24 Wiltshire schools have acheived our local award so far (January 2025).
A Young Carer display at Noremarsh Junior School.
Local support and information
For Wiltshire secondary schools (from 2025)
The Wiltshire Council Voice and Participation Service have a Young Carers Schools Worker to support all Secondary Schools in Wiltshire. This support can enable secondary schools to understand, identify and support young carers and achieve the national Young Carers in Schools Award.
For further information
Wiltshire Council website: Young Carers in Schools
Young carers in schools support poster
Contact: YCiS@wiltshire.gov.uk
For Wiltshire primary schools (from 2024)
Youth Action Wiltshire is the ‘youth arm’ of Community First, who provide the Youth Action Wiltshire Young Carers Service.
General information
- Young Carers Threshold Document (Definition of a young carer and assessment information)
There is a range of local support for young carers and their schools including:
