New proposals aim to improve how schools identify and support young carers around BCP and across the UK.
The charity MYTIME Young Carers has met with Vikki Slade and Ed Davey at Westminster, calling for practical changes to ensure pupils with caring responsibilities are recognised earlier and supported more consistently in education.
Young carers often take on significant responsibilities at home, but many remain unidentified in schools, which can lead to poor attendance, a higher risk of exclusion, and disruption to their learning and wider opportunities.
Chief Executive Krista Cartlidge said there is “a gap in consistent systems” rather than a lack of compassion, adding that when schools identify young carers early and make simple adjustments, it leads to “real days back in the classroom” and more positive futures.
The organisation is calling for schools to be made aware that recording young carers in the School Census is now compulsory, highlighting that better data is needed to understand the scale of the issue and shape future policy decisions.
It also wants funding for accredited training so every school has a dedicated Young Carer Champion, ensuring support is reliable and not dependent on individual staff members.
Vikki Slade said identifying young carers is essential, adding that without this information “schools cannot support them and meet their additional needs,” and confirmed backing for plans to introduce the role in every school.
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