A new report from Carers Trust has found that young carers are missing more than a month of education per year, on average, with this being accompanied by a call for the government to provide them with further support.
With data being gathered through the polling of teachers, surveying students, and analysis of school attendance data, it was found that on average, 23 days of education were missed by young carers every year, as opposed to the 14 days that their peers average. Further analysis also found that almost half (46%) of young carers were persistently absent over the course of 2022-23, with at least one day of secondary education being missed per fortnight.
Research from Carers Trust has identified that this could be due to a lack of support. After polling more than 8,000 teachers, less than half believed that their school provided the support that young carers need, whilst almost a quarter of young carers told Carers Trust that they receive no support from their school or college at all.
Kirsty McHugh, CEO of Carers Trust, said:
“The new Government has come in with a vow to tackle what it calls an absence epidemic. However, any national crackdown needs to recognise why young carers miss nine more school days on average than their classmates. This isn’t about irresponsible young people or parents – quite the opposite. Young carers are some of the most responsible people in society.
“This is a problem that’s been hiding in plain sight for years but many teachers and schools lack the tools and funding to tackle it. We need a revolution in the identification and support for young carers in our education system, supported by the introduction of a Young Carers Pupil Premium. You don’t need a GCSE in maths to work out the difference that would make to young carers’ lives and educational attainment.”
Currently, there are an estimated one million young carers in the UK with these ranging between five to 17 years of age. Of this figure, 15,000 are providing care for more than 50 hours a week – including 3,000 children aged between five and nine – with this taking a toll on their education. Due to this, Carers Trust is calling on the government to introduce a Young Carers Pupil Premium, which would see an annual payment being given to schools to help them provide support for young carers, helping them to balance their education with their care responsibilities.
Charity Action for Children also commented on the report, with National Director for England Catherine Joyce saying:
“The impact of caring for a family member can be profoundly damaging to a young carer’s education and life chances, and they get little recognition of the work they do or the proper support they need.
"Not only do these children and young people care for their loved ones on top of their school day, they are also often effectively ‘on call’ overnight. We see firsthand the effects of loneliness, anxiety, and stress on this often-overlooked group, which can greatly hinder their ability to attend school feeling happy, healthy, and ready to learn.
"Young carer respite services can be a lifeline, but over a decade of central government funding cuts have meant many have had to shrink or close, leaving only around 20 per cent of young carers in England receiving any sort of support from their local council.
“The government must ensure councils have sufficient funding so this hidden, unpaid child workforce can access services that offer them respite from their caregiving duties, as well as the practical and emotional support they need to thrive and enjoy a safe and happy childhood.”
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