Young carers

A child who cares for a family member. They have a legal right to an assessment.

What it is

A young carer is a person under 18 who provides or intends to provide care for another person — usually a parent or sibling with a disability, illness, mental health condition or addiction.

Where it applies

Any child in a caring role. There are hundreds of thousands in England, and most are not identified.

How it works

Local authorities must assess a young carer's needs on request or where need appears — a young carer's needs assessment under the Children and Families Act 2014. The assessment must consider whether the caring is excessive or inappropriate.

Caring affects attendance, homework, tiredness and attainment, and young carers are more likely to be persistently absent.

What you can ask for

Tell the school. Identification is the biggest barrier, and schools can offer flexibility over homework, deadlines, a phone at break, and a named person.

Ask the council for a young carer's needs assessment. It is a legal right and it is rarely offered unprompted.

Ask what support the adult being cared for is getting — the most effective help for a young carer is usually more support for the person they care for.

Where to get help

Carers Trust and the Children's Society both run young carer services. Your council's young carers team, and the school's pastoral lead.