Young Carers
Meadow View Academy is committed to enabling young carers to access education and support. This policy aims to ensure young carers at this school are identified and offered appropriate support to access the education and other services to which they are entitled.
What is a Young Carer?
Young carers are children and young people who provide care to another family member. The level of care they provide would usually be undertaken by an adult and as a result of this they take on a level of responsibility that is inappropriate to their age and development. This is likely to have a significant impact on their childhood experiences.
The person they look after will have one or more of the following:
- Physical disability
- Sensory disability
- Learning disability
- Mental health problem
- Chronic illness
- Substance misuse problem
A young carer will take on additional responsibilities to those appropriate to their age and development. A young carer might be providing the main care or share responsibilities with another family member. The caring tasks that a young carer has to deal with can range from:
- Nursing care: giving medication, injections, changing dressings, assisting with mobility etc.
- Personal intimate care: washing, dressing, feeding and helping with toilet requirements.
- Emotional care: being compliant, monitoring the emotional state of the person cared for, listening, being a shoulder to cry on, supporting a parent through depression and trying to cheer them up. In cases where a young carer is supporting an adult with drug/alcohol misuse problem, they will often take a leading role in trying to keep that person safe.
- Domestic care: doing a substantial amount of housework, cooking, shopping, cleaning, laundry etc.
- Financial care: running the household, bill paying, benefit collection etc.
- Childcare: taking responsibility for younger siblings in addition to their other caring responsibilities.
- Communication & Interpreting: communicating on behalf of the adult or family with agencies/services and interpreting for a language or sensory impairment.
Meadow View Academy acknowledges that Young Carers may need extra support to ensure they have equal access to education and opportunities offered through the life of a school. Through this policy, school is giving the message that Young Carers education and school experience is important.
Designated Leaders for Young Carers
At Meadow View Academy, the designated leads for Young Carers are:
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(Young Carers Champion) |
(Designated Safeguarding Lead) |
Mrs C. Plant 
Mr. M. Worthington To address the feedback from Young Carers, Meadow View Academy has:
- nominated a staff member who will be a Young Carer Champion to support Young Carers and to provide support/advice etc. as required;
- updated all information held on the school databases and advised all staff accordingly
- started a series of “Catch up treat” events that will provide Young Carers with the opportunity to meet, talk and relax together as a group. In addition, Young Carers can access the Pastoral support during lunch time.
Young Carers Week 2026
Young Carers week is something that the staff and children at Meadow View celebrated annually. Young Carers Week 20206 took place during the week of 9th March, with the theme of 'Fairer Futures', promoting that every child has the opportunity to thrive.
During Young Carers Day on 11th March, our amazing Pupil Leadership Team led a whole school assembly on Young Carers, what they do, and how the children can help as friends of Young Carers.
Download our Young Carers Assembly 2026
Embedding our learning - Young Carers Week 2026
Young Carers in School Award 2025-2028
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On 3rd November 2025, Meadow View Academy was awarded with the prestigious Young Carers in School Award.
This award is part of the Young Carers in School programme run by charities The Children’s Society and Carers Trust. The programme provides primary and secondary schools across England with step-by-step guidance for teachers, leaders and non-teaching staff to gain the practical tools they need to help young carers.
It is recognition of the school's ongoing commitment to support Young Carers.
We are truly honoured to achieve this award. |
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Recent Events
There was a whole school assembly to raise awareness for Young Carers. The theme of the action day was 'Give Me a Break' and all classes paused their learning to reflect and raise awareness. The children enjoyed a biscuit to give them a break.
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Signposting for Young Carers
Should you require any further information, or support, please contact Mrs Plant, or Mr Worthington via the school office, or alternatively, support can be accessed via the below locality areas.
Walsall Support
Walsall Council - Young Carers
YoungCarersEarlyHelp@walsall.gov.uk
01922 650888
Birmingham Support
https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/what-we-do/
https://spurgeons.org/how-we-help/young-carers/
Sandwell Support
https://www.sandwell.gov.uk/carers/young-carers
0121 525 8002
Other Support