Young Carers at Lord Lawson
Here at Lord Lawson we understand that young carers can face further challenges whilst at school. We have many ways to meet the needs of our young carers so they can attend school and achieve their full potential.
Our senior leadership lead for young carers is Mr Cooper (Deputy Principal) and our operational lead is Mrs Glass. Students are aware of who these key members of staff are, they also know how to contact them for support.
Identification of young carers can occur in various ways:
- Self referral through forms in year bases
- Year leader / Deputy year leader
- Attendance officers
- Counselling sessions
- Transition from Primary school
- Transition mid year
Once identified, parents/carers are contacted to discuss a referral. If an agreement is reach from parents/carers, a referral can be made for further support from the carers trust in either Gateshead, Sunderland or Durham. The referral location is dependent on where the student lives.
Staff within the academy are made aware of students who are young carers through our management information system.
At Lord Lawson we actively seek feedback and ideas from young carers to help us to improve our support offered, this is completed via drop-ins and questionnaires. We also seek feedback from external agencies.
Young carers are students under the age of 18 who regularly help to look after someone in their family. They may have a physical disability, sensory disability, learning disability, mental health issues, chronic illness or substance misuse. They have extra things to do at home and may help by:
- Looking after siblings
- Cleaning the home
- Shopping and cooking meals
- Doing laundry for the family
- Supporting someone physically e.g. helping them get dressed or out of bed
- Helping someone emotionally e.g. listening to someone when they are upset
- Helping someone to communicate
Here at Lord Lawson we support young carers and offer the following.
- Regular monthly drop-in sessions at lunchtime with the carers trust and Mrs Glass
- Weekly lunchtime drop ins / homework completion in the library with Mrs Glass
- An after school area where students can do their homework with computer access. This takes place in the school library
- Peer support from drop-ins.
- Being a member of the young carers Microsoft team online for information and support
- Staff members to talk to, who are specially trained in pastoral care
- Making teaching staff aware of who is a young carer and may need further support, particularly with homework
- Year leaders and Deputy year leaders can refer students to the school counsellor or SEMH learning mentor
- A peer mentored mental health weekly drop-in for all key stage 3 students.
Further Information
If you would like to receive further information regarding young carers, contact Mrs Glass by email at
Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy wins award for young carer support!
Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy has been given a Bronze award for their work to make sure students don’t miss out on an education because they are young carers.
The Young Carers in Schools programme helps primary and secondary schools improve outcomes for young carers and celebrates good practice through the Young Carers in Schools Award.
Young carers are responsible for emotional, practical or physical care for a parent, sibling or other family member who has a physical disability, mental health issue or substance misuse issue. The 2011 Census statistics revealed that there are just over 166,000 young carers in England, but research reveals that this is just the tip of the iceberg. The true figure could be closer to 800,000 young carers in England, equivalent to one in 5 secondary aged school children many of whom are unrecognised and unsupported.
Research carried out by Carers Trust and The Children’s Society shows that, on average, young carers miss or cut short 48 school days a year and often have lower levels of self-confidence, mental wellbeing and significantly lower educational attainment at GCSE level, because of their caring role. Ofsted’s Common Inspection Framework states that inspectors will look at how well schools support young carers. While some schools are doing this really well, others struggle and this causes real problems for young carers.
To help schools support young carers, the programme offers a step-by-step guide for leaders, teachers and non-teaching staff, with practical tools designed to make it as easy as possible for schools. Staff can also receive training through webinars and events and the programme also features a newsletter each term highlighting relevant policy developments, spotlighting good practice and giving updates on the programme’s successes.
“To achieve their Bronze Award Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy has demonstrated that it supports young carers in many ways, including homework clubs and drop-in sessions with a member of staff who is responsible for this vulnerable group of pupils. Vital information about how to identify young carers is made available to all school staff, and noticeboards and the school webpage let students and their
The programme is open to all schools in England and to sign up schools just need to visit www.youngcarersinschools.com
Giles Meyer, Chief Executive of Carers Trust, today congratulated Award-winning schools, saying: “The Young Carers in Schools programme is helping to transform schools and support staff across England. Schools play a vital role in a young carer’s life, as many care for relatives without their teachers even knowing what they do. On average young carers will miss a day of school each month as a result of their caring role, so the steps schools take to identify and support them can have a huge impact on their learning, wellbeing and life chances.”
Luella Goold, Service Manager at The Children’s Society, is delighted that the Young Carers in Schools Programme is bringing about national change.
“Hundreds of schools across England are participating in the Young Carers in Schools programme, using the tools and resources to improve their support systems, and ensuring that no child need miss out on educational opportunities because they are a carer. 74% of schools who have achieved a Young Carers in Schools Award have noticed improved attendance among their young carers, and 94% have noticed improvements in their wellbeing and confidence.”
Young Carer further infromation
