For many children and young people, caring for someone at home is simply part of everyday life – and they may not think of themselves as a carer at all. This can make young carers particularly difficult to identify and mean they miss out on support that could make a real difference.

As a result, young carers remain significantly under-identified in our schools. Kingston schools recorded 498 young carers in the 2026 School Census, yet we estimate that more than 2,000 young carers are living in the borough.

Our new toolkit aims to help close that gap. It brings together practical guidance on identifying and supporting young carers, the impact caring can have on attendance, attainment and wellbeing, schools’ responsibilities, and the local services and support available.

The toolkit is also particularly timely. From September 2026, young carers are explicitly referenced in updated Ofsted inspection requirements, Keeping Children Safe in Education and statutory school attendance guidance, reflecting growing recognition of young carers within the education system.

Does your school have a Young Carers Lead?

One of the practical steps we encourage schools to take is to appoint a Young Carers Lead or Champion to help coordinate support.

If your school doesn’t have a designated lead yet, there’s no need to worry. The toolkit is designed to help schools develop their approach from wherever they are starting. Responsibility may currently sit with someone in pastoral care, safeguarding, inclusion or another area, and we can support you in developing this further.

Whether your school already has established support for young carers or is just getting started, we hope the toolkit will be a useful, practical resource.

Download the Young Carers Education Professionals Toolkit

We’d also love to build stronger links with schools across Kingston and make sure useful support, resources and opportunities reach the right people.

Please take one minute to complete our short form to help us understand the best way to keep in touch with and support your school.

Have a question? You can contact our Young Carers in Schools Coordinator Lucia Lenaghan at lucia.lenaghan@kingstoncarers.org.uk.

With thanks to the Accelerating Reform Fund (ARF) for funding this work and supporting better identification and support for unpaid carers.

What should local health and care look like for carers?

Hosted by the Kingston Carers Partnership Board

Neighbourhood health brings health, care and community services together so people get the right support, at the right time, in their local community.

Kingston is developing its approach - and carers need to be part of deciding what it should look like.

This in-person workshop is a chance for unpaid carers of all ages to come together, sharing what works, and what needs to change. Your views and priorities will help guide future plans and ensure carers are recognised as key providers of care.

We’re also pleased to welcome Dominic Carter King, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Carers Trust, as a speaker.

Where: The Guildhall, Queen Anne Suite, KT1 1EU
When: Tue 15 Sep, 10.00am-12.30pm

Register your place: Email adults.engagement@kingston.gov.uk or call 020 8547 5005

We were delighted to welcome the Young Carers Illustration Project team to our summer party, where illustrator and storyteller Ana Graça captured the celebrations and interviewed two of our young carers, Lena and Victoria, about their involvement in the development of her children’s book Young Carers in Space.

Working alongside primary school-aged young carers, including young carers supported by Kingston Carers Network, the Young Carers Illustration Project aims to increase representation of young carers in children’s literature.

Through interactive workshops, young carers shared their experiences and ideas, helping to shape the story, characters and illustrations.

“I feel like for me, I was like, "Wow, this is such a cool book because it's kind of like us, but like they don't have our name, so it's like anonymous, but like it's us." Lena

Young Carers in Space follows Honey, as she travels into space with the help of a fairy while learning that she does not have to face challenges alone. At home, Honey helps care for her older brother and struggles to share her worries with her teacher at school. Along the way, she discovers other young carers like her and learns that support is available.

The story was inspired by the experiences and perspectives shared by young carers during the workshops, including contributions from Lena and Victoria.

In the new film, Lena and Victoria talk about what it meant to see young carers represented in a book.

“When the book launched, I remember I was really excited because no one ever puts us in books.” Victoria

Both young carers also spoke about how the project helped others understand their experiences. Lena explained: “I felt really special because people were kind of talking about me and they kind of started to understand how I felt.”

Watch the film below to hear more from Lena and Victoria and see highlights from our summer party.

Read the books

Download Young Carers in Bunnyland
Download Young Carers in Space

Learn more about the Young Carers Illustration Project and Ana Graca’s work