Work in Schools

The Schools Project began in Spring 2002 as part of the generic project with the aim of offering support to young carers in schools. The Schools Workers covered schools in the boroughs of Surrey Heath, Woking, Runnymede and Spelthorne, offering support to pupils and staff.

The work of the Schools Project is now expanding into a consultative role to enable the Support Workers of the generic project to take some of their work into the schools in the boroughs not previously covered. As young people spend a great deal of time at school, it makes sense that Surrey Young Carers Project offers more of its service there.

We would like to feel that all young carers are offered access to support, if they feel the need for it, and that school is a safe environment in which to obtain that support.

Surrey Young Carers’ Workers are trained professionals, with a wide experience of working with young people. We are not therapists or counsellors, but are qualified to refer on to these services (and others) should the need arise.

School can provide many challenges for every young person, but the child who has caring responsibilities at home has additional challenges to contend with. There are many reasons why a young carer would work hard at not being discovered, they may not realise they are a ‘young carer’, not wanting to be seen as different by their peers, "concerns that they may be taken into care", or fear of being pitied. As a result it is an extremely difficult job for teachers to recognise young carers in school, particularly with an ever-increasing workload. However, because children spend such a huge proportion of their time in school, school staff sometimes know pupils nearly as well as the parents, which puts them in an ideal position to spot young people with caring responsibilities. Whilst young carers, of course, do not present uniformly, school staff are able to see their pupils with their peers and can judge slightly odd behaviour. Here are some other possible identifying factors:

• A young carer’s attendance at school may be poor, erratic or frequently late, and they may present a multitude of excuses (probably none of which are the real reason)
• Some young carers feel out of touch with their classmates, since they are often more mature in attitude
• Alternatively some can exhibit wild behaviour at school since this is their escape from the home environment
• Young Carers face conflict as they are expected to be the subordinate child at school and the responsible adult at home. This conflict can express itself as difficult behaviour
• Young carers may be preoccupied with their caring concerns during their school day
• They may be frequently tired in school
• Some may work perfectly well in lessons, since this is their ‘normality’ time, but not so conscientious about homework or supporting out of school activities because of their responsibilities at home
• Young carers may not take home letters about parents’ evenings, etc., so it may seem that their parents lack interest
• Young carers are frequently from low income families
• Young carers are often a target for bullying
• Their appearance may be dishevelled or grubby – indicating lack of care

• Assembly presentations to introduce the project to the school
• A programme of Personal Social and Health Education lessons around issues of caring, illness, disability and the community
• Individual support for young carers who are struggling at home or at school
• Group work – either issue based or simply to engender peer support
• Presentations and seminars for school staff and governors

Our individual work with young carers is time specific and after an initial meeting an agreement will be made with the young person detailing days and times of further meetings. There is obviously no obligation for a young person to take up the option of support, but once an agreement has been made they will be expected to attend appointments. The work will be reviewed with the young carer at the end of the period.

Parents will be informed by letter of the offer of support for their child and will receive a short leaflet explaining the work of the project. Work will not continue with the young person if the family has objections.

To refer a pupil to the project: please complete a referral form (see link below) and return it to the ‘Schools Worker’ at the project. An initial meeting will then be set up with the pupil.

Last Updated June 2005