Landmark parliamentary debate on educational opportunities for young carers for Young Carers Action Day 2025

To mark Young Carers Action Day, MPs held a Westminster Hall Debate focused specifically on educational opportunities for young carers and young adult carers.

Chris Vince MP, Chair of the All-Parliamentary Group for Young Carers and Young Adult Carers, put forward the important debate following Young Carers Action Day on Wednesday 12 March.

Caption: Chris Vince MP pictured

There was cross-party support for better awareness, identification and support for young carers in education. Speakers repeatedly highlighted the barriers faced by young carers in education, such as levels of school absence and the challenges of balancing caring responsibilities with school, college or university.

MPs also used the opportunity to highlight some of the experiences of young carers they had spoken to on Young Carers Action Day.

MPs from across the House showed support for the Young Carers in Schools Programme and Award, run jointly by the Carers Trust and the Children’s Society.

They also spoke about the importance of identification of young carers through the School Census, and having a designated Young Carers Lead in schools for young carers to go to if they ever need support.

Alison Bennett MP, the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Care and Carers, supported Carers Trust’s call for a Young Carers Pupil Premium.

In response to the debate, Department for Education Minister for School Standards, Catherine McKinnell MP said:

“I acknowledge that the education system, in partnership with agencies, needs to improve to meet the developing needs of children, especially our young carers. They must be at the heart of our opportunity mission.”

Caption: Catherine McKinnell MP pictured 

We welcome this recognition of young carers and the Minister’s strong encouragement for local authorities to sign up to “No Wrong Doors for Young Carers” – a memorandum of understanding developed by the Carers Trust on behalf of the Local Government Association.

The Minister also highlighted how joint working between adult and children’s social care services, health and other key organisations is crucial to identifying and supporting young carers. 

We welcome the Minister’s commitment to continue to work with us to improve identification and recording of young carers in schools through the School Census.

While recent school census data available recorded 53,975 pupils as young carers in England, 72% of schools reported that they had no young carers in their schools – we know this is simply not the case.