Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s),

Identifying and supporting Young Carers at Dereham Church of England Junior Academy.

We are committed to ensuring that all students get the support they need to have a positive school experience. We want them to be happy in school and achieve their full potential. We know that for some students, factors outside of school can have a big impact on this, particularly if there is someone in their family or a friend who is ill, disabled, or has a mental health problem or addiction. We think in every class there could be as many as 2 pupils who are helping to support someone because of one of these factors – we call these students young carers.

Students can be young carers for lots of different reasons:
– They might be providing physical support to a parent with a physical illness such as fibromyalgia or ME, they may be cooking for them, fetching things, helping with things like putting shoes on or doing the shopping.
– They might be helping a parent with a disability who needs help with more personal tasks such as getting dressed, bathing or changing dressings
– Or it could be more emotional support – like being there if their autistic sibling is upset, taking responsibility for young siblings whilst parents attend health appointments, or checking that a parent with depression/anxiety is ok.

Some young carers might be doing lots of caring, others just a small amount but all young carers are impacted by the situation at home. Many young carers worry about the person with the health condition, or they need to do more things for themselves compared to other students.

There is lots of support available for young carers and their families should they ever need it – both inside and outside of school. If a child in school is identified as a young carer, they are given the choice to join our young carers group where they will meet other children in the same position as them. 

If you think that any of the above applies to your child, and that they might possibly be a young carer then please contact school on 01362 693876. Even if you feel your child or family are doing really well and don’t need any support, it’s better for us to be aware of them as potential young carers, in case the situation suddenly changes and they (or you) do need support.