Education, employment and training - Young Carers

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Young Carers Education Support Team

The Young Carers Education Support Team (YCEST) is a joint collaboration between schools and Plymouth City Council that is available to support professionals in a Plymouth school working with young carers.

Why is it needed?

There are currently a very high number of young carers in the city, with many more that are hidden. Young carers are a vulnerable group with incredible pressures. The impact on their own education and welfare can be significant for some. We want Plymouth to be a young carer-friendly and supportive city, with everyone working together to identify and support them in a holistic way.

What can the team offer?

Support and advice via telephone, email or virtual calls
Training around how to identify and support young carers
Facilitation of network meetings for young carers' leads
Facilitate opportunities for young carers to participate in events and projects.
Support during the transition

Lipson Co-Operative Academy, believes all young people have a right to an education, regardless of their situation at home. When a young person has a caring responsibility they may need extra support to help them get the most out of school. We define a Young Carer as a young person who has caring responsibilities for a family member with a disability, health condition or substance misuse issue. Young carers may provide physical care, personal care, help with medication or practical tasks, or provide emotional support. This policy outlines how we will seek to identify, raise awareness of and offer support to any pupil who looks after someone at home.

Lipson Co-Operative Academy Young Carers Policy (PDF) [331KB]

Safeguarding

Keeping children safe in education

Highlights the importance of improving formal identification of young carers in schools, understanding their needs, and providing early help as outlined in statutory guidance on keeping children safe in education.

Working together to safeguard children

Working together to safeguard children is statutory guidance that outlines how school and college staff should be particularly alert to the potential need for early help for students who have taken on caring responsibilities.

To find out about support available for schools to improve their ability to identify and support young carers, visit the Young Carers in Schools website.

Employment and training

On Course South West
Jobs, Careers and training (Plymouth City Council)
Skills Launchpad Plymouth Youth Hub

Young carers are missing 23 days of school every year

More than half of all teachers say young carers are not getting the support they need at school. A report, Caring and classes: the education gap for young carers, sets out the concerning state of young carers' educational attainment and opportunities in England in 2024. The findings are based on a combination of surveys, focus groups, and individual interviews with young carers, parents, and school/college staff. In addition, a series of polls has captured the views of approximately 25,000 pupils and over 8,000 teachers across England.

Unseen Sacrifices: understanding the educational disadvantages faced by young carers

This report has been prepared for the Department for Education, the Department for Health and Social Care, the Office of the Children's Commissioner, the Department for Work and Pensions, local authorities, children's services, those working in education, and those working with young carers. Download and read the report.

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