The date for this year’s data collection on Young Carers is January 16^th 2025. This is the only census in the academic year which captures this data.

This is the third annual data collection on young carers, and the learning from the Department for Education on the educational experience of young carers has been stark so far:

• Young carers are twice as likely to be persistently absent (39%) than pupils without a caring role. They have the highest rate of absences above all named vulnerable groups.
• Young carers had more than double the rate of suspensions (0.25 vs 0.11)
• The proportion of young carers enrolled with one of more temporary suspensions was also more than double the proportion for pupils not recorded as young carers (8.00 vs 3.59).

TOP TIPS 

for successfully completing the data on young carers in the school census.

1. Correctly Code

Schools will be asked to record the information using the following codes. The default value will be ‘N’, not declared. This is not a mandatory field, and it is possible to move to the next stage of the census without completing this field. In 2024, Nationally, 72% of schools reported they have no young carers in their school.

For young carers identified by the school (e.g. a young carer self-identified on the back of an assembly, tutor time or pastoral support), use the ‘S’ code, identified as a young carer by school.

Similarly, for a young carer identified by the parents/carers or local young carers service, use code ‘P’, identified by parent/guardian.

            2.  Accurate information

Not all school systems have a method for identifying a pupil as a young carer. It is important that those that know who their young carers are (trained Young Carer Champions, DSLs, pastoral staff) pass this information on to those who populate the data in the school census.

Family Action works closely with school staff when supporting young carers in Windsor and Maidenhead, and have trained staff as Young Carer Champions in over a third of schools in our borough.  Family Action has registered and directly supported young carers in 97% of schools in Windsor and Maidenhead, yet in Windsor and Maidenhead 70% of schools reported they have no young carers in their school (although we did better than the national figure of 72%)

            3.  Identify and support Young Carers

The Young Carers in Schools programme states that for many young carers, school offers respite, providing a dedicated space away from their caring role. However, young carers told the first Parliamentary Inquiry looking into the life opportunities of young carers and young adult carers that too often, they are struggling to balance their education with their caring responsibilities. Once you have an accurate understanding of which pupils are juggling caring alongside their education, seek to find ways to support them with this balance. Please contact our team at rbwm.yc@family-action.org.uk if you would like to discuss how we can support you to set up effective young carer support.

For more information on the school census, please visit Young Carers and the School Census

Thank you for supporting us to get a better understanding of the lived experiences of young carers. With greater understanding, we can improve support for young carers and their families in our community.

Sarah Collin

Young Carers Service Manager, Windsor and Maidenhead

Windsor and Maidenhead Young Carers