Our response to the Children’s Plan

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers welcomes the reference in the children’s plan to young carers and the specific needs they face. We agree that services should adopt a whole-family approach and we are keen to see the specific plans about how the government will support young carers and their families.

We will wait with interest for the publication of the carers’ strategy review which will set out the government’s plans for young carers. We hope that the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department of Health will take this opportunity to work together to bridge the gaps between children’s and adults’ services and The Princess Royal Trust for Carers looks forward to working with both departments in achieving this.

Providing the right type of support to parents is key for young carers. Every family situation is different and we are pleased that the support to parents is a key part of the government’s children’s plan. It is important to remember that many disabled parents, as well as those affected by mental health conditions and drug and alcohol addictions, struggle to participate in the school community and their child’s education. It is vital that the measures outlined in the plan take into consideration disabled parents’ specific needs.

For a young carer, there are often serious reasons why they are persistently absent from school and why they are struggling with attainment. We believe that schools should look at the underlying reasons why young people are missing school and why they are struggling with their education, without automatically labeling them as lazy or troublesome pupils.

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers agrees with the government that it is only by putting the needs of children and their families first that every young person will be able to achieve their potential and enjoy their time in education.