Seeing the Unseen

Young carers often move through school carrying responsibilities that would overwhelm many adults. As a school we understand this, so we work to make the unseen visible not by spotlighting students, but by creating an environment where they feel safe to be known. Through assemblies, displays, staff training, student voice work, lunchtime group and trips, we make it clear that caring is a strength, not a secret. Of the current 70 identified young carers at St Regis, around half of them are siblings of a disabled child. Understanding the life experiences of a sibling young carer can make all the difference for their future.  Students tell us that simply being recognised changes how they feel about themselves and their place in our school.

Listening to Lived Experience – Voices That Matter

Our approach is shaped by our lived experiences from staff members with a caring role and the voices of our young carers themselves. Their insights guide our policies, our pastoral systems and our curriculum. PSHE lessons and form discussions highlighting the challenges of a caring role are included throughout the school year. Through reflection tools, surveys, discussions and being featured in a podcast episode for SENDcast, students have bravely shared what support feels like, what gets in the way and what helps them thrive. Their words have challenged assumptions, deepened staff understanding and ensured that our provision grows with them at the centre.

Advocating for Young Carers

When St Regis talks about young carers openly and confidently, students and families are more likely to disclose needs sooner. Identifying students is paramount so support can be put in place before attendance, behaviour or attainment are affected.

Advocacy for young carers matters and it’s a topic we need to talk about more in the disability space, as their experiences are deeply connected. When families are navigating the emotional impact of disability, including our students voices in disability awareness means we’re not just educating - we’re empowering and ensuring they feel seen, heard and supported.

Following the publication of the podcast, St Regis have been asked to work with the Carers Trust and London Universities as a guest school presenting during a nationally- available webinar, to share our experience of achieving the Young Carers in Schools Award last year and including the voices of two of our young carers.

Building Trust Through Relationships

At the heart of our culture is the belief that every young carer deserves a trusted adult; someone who notices when they’re tired, checks in when things feel heavy and celebrates their resilience. Staff across the school are trained to recognise the signs of overwhelm, respond with warmth and offer flexibility without fuss. This relational approach means students don’t have to explain their situation repeatedly or fear being judged. They know they will be met with kindness.

In September, we ran our first Young Carers residential trip to Wales. The trip gave pupils time away from caring responsibilities, opportunities to build friendships with others who “get it”, and practical life skills such as planning meals. Most importantly, it reinforced the message that they deserve support, rest and positive experiences, without guilt.

Practical Support That Makes a Difference

We have built a consistent, whole-school approach to supporting Young Carers, led by our Young Carer Coordinator, so that pupils know there is always an adult who understands their situation and can help. In May 2025, St Regis achieved the Young Carers in Schools award, part of the national programme delivered by The Children’s Society and Carers Trust, recognising the practical steps schools take to identify and support this vulnerable group.

Support at St Regis is both emotional and practical. We offer:

• Flexible deadlines and understanding around attendance
• Quiet spaces for regulation and rest
• Regular check‑ins with trained staff
• Help with organisation, homework and revision
• Signposting to external agencies, referrals and family support
• Opportunities to connect with other young carers in school and connecting to other schools in Wolverhampton soon

Key members of staff are named on posters, leaflets and screens around the school and featured prominently on the school website so that all staff members and parents/carers know who to approach for support if it is needed. 

These adjustments are not extras, they are essential scaffolding that allows young carers to participate fully in school life.

A Whole‑School Commitment

Our culture of support is not held by one team or one role. It is embedded across the school in safeguarding, curriculum design, CPD, governance and leadership strategy. Every adult plays a part in ensuring young carers can learn and grow academically, socially, emotionally and personally. This whole‑school approach ensures that young carers are not defined by their responsibilities but empowered by their strengths.

A Community That Stands Together

When we talk about transformational learning, we often think of big moments. For young carers, transformation often begins with something quieter: being understood. Being believed. Being supported without having to ask. Being given the space to be a child as well as a carer.

At St Regis Academy, our young carers are not an afterthought. They are leaders, contributors and valued members of our community. Their voices shape our practice, their experiences deepen our empathy and their stories remind us why inclusion is not a policy, it is a promise.