Schools Need to Take More Responsibility to Identify and Support Young Carers

Schools need to take more responsibility for supporting children who are carers for family members, a children’s charity says.

Barnardo’s say that young carers are being failed by their schools as they struggle to balance out their education with looking after a sick or disabled family member.

According to the charity’s research, a 25 per cent of children said they had to carry out more than 30 hours a week caring duties, with 27 per cent unable to estimate an accurate total.

An 808 teaching professionals took part in the online poll which found that 40 per cent were not confident they could spot a young carer in their class.

“It is simply not acceptable that children are having to sacrifice their futures to care for the ones they love,” Barnardo’s Chief Executive Javed Khan said:

“Austerity has meant local authorities have had to cut back on adult social care and the result is children are picking up the pieces. A quarter of the children supported by Barnardo’s young carers’ services are carrying out more than 30 hours a week of caring – that’s the equivalent of a full time job.

“It’s clear from our research that there is a lack of awareness among teachers that needs urgently addressing. Schools need to take more responsibility to make sure young carers are properly supported.

“Looking after their family members is something that our young carers are incredibly proud of but it shouldn’t be at the expense of their childhoods or their futures.”

Worringly, 29 per cent of teachers said they didn’t think their school had intervention or support available to young carers even though 34 per cent said that those they were aware of attending the school were not sufficiently supported.

More than 75 per cent of children caring said they had suffered from feelings of anger, depression and anxiety as well as isolation.