Last week, as well as welcoming Young Carers from Mark Hall Academy in Harlow into parliament, I took part in a number of activities with Carers Trust to mark Young Carers Action Day. This included opportunity to hold a debate in Westminster Hall on the educational opportunities for young carers — an issue that is close to my heart.
Prior to my election I worked for a wonderful charity in Harlow and across Essex called Action for Family Carers. In this role I provided respite care and in-school support for children and young people who care for family members and loved ones with physical and mental disabilities.
I spent the first 15 years of my working life as a secondary school Maths teacher, working with students of a variety of abilities from 11 to 18. This is where I can pin-point the moment I realised that our education system was failing young carers. As I recalled in my maiden speech in one of the schools, I taught a boy in my form who was forever late meeting homework deadlines and not getting his homework planner, where he was supposed to record his homework, signed. This led to him receiving several detentions both from myself and other teachers. I remember on parents evening when the student arrived with both of his parents who were severely physically disabled. To my shame I had no idea until this point, he and his older sister were Young Carers. Of course, once I was aware that he was a Young Carer I could provide more support for him. We even had a special arrangement that his older sister would sign his homework planner.
My first key asks during the debate were around identification and support for Young Carers in an educational setting, starting with the need for Young Carers to be a mandatory part of teaching training so that teachers don’t have the same experience I had.
Although many schools do have Young Carers Leads, a single point of contact for Young Carers to approach if they are struggling or are late for school, this is not universal. I have spoken to a number of Young Carers who find themselves having to explain themselves to five or more teachers if they are absent or late because of caring responsibilities. Equally we spoke to one Young Carer who felt embarrassed having to ask his peers to ‘keep it down’ in the school library as this was the only place he could get his homework done.
My final ask was to consider the transition of Young Carers into Universities or higher education. Many Young Carers do not go to university because they do not feel they can leave the person that they care for alone, or if they do, they will only go to local universities, which is cutting their options. One Young Carer we spoke to said that the Universities website didn’t provide any case studies he could relate to.
In the debate there was a consensus that things need to change and the identification, awareness and support that teachers should offer Young Carers is at the root of this. As I mentioned, teachers cannot offer this without training that is tailored to this. In the debate the minister agreed that teacher training should include Young Carers, recognising the tailored support that they often require in school. Offering this training will not only help young carers in school but also aid in identifying young carers. So often many young carers don’t know themselves that this is what they are, let alone be able to seek support.
I look forward to giving more of a voice to Young Carers and Young Adult Carers during my time in Westminster, starting with ensuring they are part of the consultation into the upcoming Youth Strategy.
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Source: Politics
