Beacon Rise Primary School Honoured for Outstanding Young Carer Support

18th March 2025

Kingswood school, Beacon Rise Primary School, has been awarded the Young Carers in Schools Award for its dedication to ensuring young carers receive the support they need to thrive in education.

The Young Carers in Schools programme, delivered locally by Carers Support Bristol and South Gloucestershire, helps primary and secondary schools identify and assist students with caregiving responsibilities. The initiative recognises schools implementing effective support strategies, ensuring young carers are not left behind.

Young carers provide emotional, practical, or physical care for a family member with a disability, mental health condition, or substance dependency. The 2021 Census identified over 1,150 young carers aged 5-18 in Bristol and an estimated 510 in South Gloucestershire. However, the true number is likely higher, as many young carers remain unidentified.

Caring responsibilities can significantly impact a child's education, leading to absenteeism, bullying, and lower academic achievement. A 2018 Young Carers Attendance Survey found that 75% of young carers in Bristol and South Gloucestershire had missed school due to their caregiving responsibilities.

Ofsted's Common Inspection Framework requires schools to demonstrate how they support young carers. While some schools excel, others struggle, leaving young carers without the help they need.

Carers Support delivers the Young Carers in Schools programme across Bristol and South Gloucestershire, providing training for staff, governors, and students. Schools then establish dedicated support groups, homework clubs, and drop-in sessions, creating a more inclusive environment for young carers.

Young Carers in Schools is a national initiative led by The Children’s Society and Carers Trust, with hundreds of schools across England participating. In Bristol and South Gloucestershire, 80 schools have already joined, and all surveyed schools recommend the programme to others.

Joss Tagg, Young Carers Manager at Carers Support, congratulated the award-winning school, saying:

“By achieving this award, Beacon Rise has demonstrated its commitment to supporting young carers. The school actively works with young carers and their families to reduce their caring responsibilities, ensuring they are considered at every level of school decision-making.”

The programme is open to all schools in England. Schools in Bristol and South Gloucestershire can contact Vicki Houselander at 0117 958 9980 or VickiH@bsg.org.uk for more information or visit this page.