Staff and students at Educational Diversity Pupil Referral Unit in Blackpool have been recognised for the fabulous work they do with young carers by achieving a Young Carers in Schools Gold Award.



The Young Carers in Schools programme helps educational settings to improve outcomes for young carers and celebrates good practice through the award scheme. The programme is run jointly by the Carers Trust and The Children’s Society Young Carers in Focus partners.

This is a double celebration as Educational Diversity is the first Pupil Referral Unit in the country to receive this prestigious honour.

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 700,000 young carers in England, equivalent to one in 12 school children many of whom are unrecognised and unsupported.

Research carried out by the 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 well-being 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.

Educational Diversity Head teacher, Wendy Casson, said: “Our young people, who attend Educational Diversity, often have a number of difficulties to face on a daily basis before they can even begin to access learning. Those who are young carers are under even more pressure and so we do everything we can to support them to overcome these difficulties and to be the young person they want to be. We are so proud of all our students.”

One student at Educational Diversity, commented: “Tara from the Young Carer’s Centre came into school to give a talk and I realised then that I was actually a young carer. Just having someone to talk to really helped and knowing that staff understood and were there to help me, gave me so much more confidence.”

Cllr Kathryn Benson, Blackpool Council Cabinet Member for Schools and Learning, commented: “This is great news and well deserved recognition for the fantastic work that is being done by such committed people. The work is making such a positive difference to so many young people’s lives and is quite rightly being applauded.”

The National Office for Young Carers, said: “To achieve their Gold Award, Educational Diversity has demonstrated that it supports young carers in many, 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 families know where to go for help.”

Staff at Educational Diversity, are also leading the way across Blackpool to support other schools in helping them understand more fully the implications of being a young carer.

Giles Meyer, Chief Executive of the Carers Trust, remarked: “Schools play a vital role in a young carer’s life, but many care for relatives without their teachers even knowing what they do. On average young carers will miss half a day of school each fortnight 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.”

Helen Leadbitter, national young carers lead at The Children’s Society, is thrilled with the way the Young Carers in Schools Programme is bringing about national change. She said: “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.”