A young carer is anyone aged under 18 who provides regular and ongoing care for a family member with an illness, disability, or addiction. In England an estimated 800,000 young people are young carers, and many are in secondary school, where the demands of caring can affect attendance, concentration, and attainment.
Who counts as a young carer?
The term "young carer" describes any child or young person who takes on significant caring responsibilities for a family member — typically a parent, sibling, or grandparent — because of that person's illness, physical or mental health condition, disability, or substance use.
The care provided can be wide-ranging:
- Providing personal care (washing, dressing, helping with medication)
- Doing domestic tasks (cooking, shopping, cleaning) that a parent or sibling cannot manage
- Acting as a translator or advocate in medical appointments
- Providing emotional support to a parent with depression, anxiety, or a serious mental illness
- Supervising or caring for a younger sibling while a parent is incapacitated
A young carer does not need to be providing care every day to be identified as one. The defining characteristic is that the caring role is regular, significant, and has an impact on the child's own life and development.
How many young carers are there in the UK?
Official estimates suggest there are approximately 800,000 young carers in England, though many remain unidentified — some young people do not recognise themselves as carers and do not disclose their situation at school. The Carers Trust and Action for Children have both highlighted that young carers are significantly underrepresented in official data.
Among secondary school pupils, young carers are more likely to:
- Have higher rates of absence from school
- Report feeling isolated or unable to participate in after-school activities
- Experience difficulties with homework completion and revision
- Report higher levels of stress and anxiety
These effects compound over time: young carers are statistically less likely to achieve the grades their ability predicts and are more likely to drop out of post-16 education.
What is a school's legal duty towards young carers?
Schools have several overlapping duties that apply to young carers:
Safeguarding duty — identifying and supporting children who may be at risk of harm, including harm arising from carrying excessive caring responsibilities, is part of every school's safeguarding obligations under the Children Act 1989 and Working Together to Safeguard Children guidance.
SEND and wellbeing duties — if a young carer's caring role is affecting their learning, the school has a duty under the Children and Families Act 2014 to identify needs and put in place appropriate support. This does not automatically mean an EHCP, but it does mean the school should consider what reasonable adjustments can be made.
Duty to identify and refer — schools are encouraged (and in many cases expected) to refer young carers to local authority support services, including a Young Carer's Assessment. Under the Children and Families Act 2014, a young carer has the right to request an assessment of their needs from the local authority.
What is a Young Carers in Schools programme?
Many schools participate in the Young Carers in Schools programme, a joint initiative of the Carers Trust and Action for Children. The programme provides schools with a framework for identifying, supporting, and reviewing provision for young carers, and awards a Young Carers in Schools Award to schools that demonstrate good practice.
Schools in the programme typically:
- Designate a Young Carers Lead (often the SENCO, a pastoral head, or a senior leader)
- Create a Young Carers Register — a confidential list of identified young carers so staff are aware
- Hold regular review meetings with known young carers
- Apply flexibility on homework deadlines, uniform requirements, or absence policies where appropriate
- Connect young carers with peer support groups and external organisations
What can parents do if they think their child is a young carer?
If a parent or guardian believes their child is taking on caring responsibilities that are affecting their school life, the most effective step is to speak to the school directly — ideally to the form tutor, head of year, or SENCO. Parents should:
- Describe the caring responsibilities the child is carrying (without necessarily sharing confidential family medical information they do not wish to disclose)
- Ask whether the school has a designated Young Carers Lead
- Enquire about the school's flexibility on homework, attendance recording, and exam preparation support
- Ask whether the school can refer the child to a local Young Carers service for peer support
| Support available at school | Description |
|---|---|
| Flexible homework deadlines | Extensions given when caring responsibilities make completing homework on time genuinely impossible |
| Attendance adjustments | Absence recorded sensitively; fixed-penalty notices not pursued for caring-related absence |
| Quiet spaces | Access to a space at lunch or break for students who find the social environment overwhelming |
| Exam access arrangements | Additional time or breaks if caring responsibilities are causing significant stress-related impacts on performance |
| Referral to external support | Signposting to local young carer support groups, online communities, and counselling |
What is a Young Carer's Assessment?
A Young Carer's Assessment is a formal assessment carried out by the local authority (usually the children's services or adult social care department) to understand the impact of the caring role on the young person and identify what support can be put in place.
The young person has the right to request this assessment themselves under the Children and Families Act 2014, without needing a parent's consent. Schools, GPs, or social workers can also refer.
The assessment typically looks at the nature and extent of the caring role, the impact on the young person's education, social life, physical health, and emotional wellbeing, and what additional support from the local authority — such as respite care for the person being cared for — could reduce the burden on the child.
Frequently asked questions
Does a young carer have to tell their school about their situation?
No — disclosure is voluntary. However, without telling the school, the student cannot access the flexibility or pastoral support that could help. Many young carers feel embarrassed or worried that disclosing will lead to social services involvement. Schools should — and most do — make clear that identifying as a young carer leads to support, not scrutiny.
Can a young carer get extra time in GCSE exams?
Extra time and other exam access arrangements are not automatically available to young carers. Access arrangements must be evidenced by an assessment showing that the student has a specific learning, physical, or communication need that affects their performance in a timed examination. However, if a young carer has developed anxiety or emotional difficulties as a result of their caring role, an assessment for access arrangements may be appropriate and worth discussing with the school's SENCO.
What if the school is not supportive of a young carer?
Parents can escalate concerns to the school's SENCO, then to the head teacher, then to the governing body. If a school is failing to fulfil its safeguarding duties towards a young carer, parents can also contact the local authority's children's services department. Ofsted inspectors consider schools' support for vulnerable pupils, including young carers, as part of the Personal Development and Leadership and Management judgements.
Are there young carer support groups in most areas?
Yes. Most local authorities fund or commission a Young Carers service, typically run through a children's charity or carers organisation. These provide young carers with social activities, peer support, counselling, and practical help such as emergency plans for when the person they care for has a crisis. Schools can refer to these services, or parents can search their local authority website.
For academic catch-up support and tutoring for young carers at secondary school level, visit aitutors.me.