Recognising young carers in the early years
Early years practitioners are “uniquely placed to notice when caring responsibilities begin to shape a child’s everyday life”
Young children may not have the language to describe their experiences.
Caring can show instead in play, in daily routines, in attachment, and in how closely a child tunes in to other people’s feelings.
Relying on what a child says, on their age, or on a count of visible care tasks can miss it.
Visual and creative approaches, such as drawing and storytelling, let young children show what caring means to them.
When they’re missed
When young carers in early childhood aren’t identified, their legal right to a needs assessment, referrals to specialist services and formal support all become harder to reach.
What the law says
The law sets no lower age for a young carer.
A young carer is “a person under 18 who provides or intends to provide care for another person”.
Yet several local authorities define young carers as having a minimum age of 8.
APPG for Young Carers and Young Adult Carers (November 2023), p.19
When a young carer needs outside support, the local authority must carry out a young carer’s needs assessment under section 17ZA of the Children Act 1989.
The figures
127
young carers recorded in school nursery classes and below in the 2026 school census, and a further 847 in reception
Pupils in state-funded schools in England only. Private and voluntary nurseries and childminders are not in the census.
Department for Education, Schools, pupils and their characteristics 2025/26 (published 4 June 2026)
7,389
children aged 5 to 7 identified as providing unpaid care in the 2021 Census; 1,746 of them for 50 or more hours a week
Figures as reported by the APPG for Young Carers and Young Adult Carers from the 2021 Census.
Resources to use
To share with children
Picture book (free PDF)
Young Carers in Space
Young Carers Illustrations
A story about a six-year-old young carer called Honey, co-produced with young carers.
Film, CBeebies Bedtime Stories (25 May 2026)
Natalie Cassidy reads Young Carers in Space
BBC CBeebies, on YouTube
The book read aloud, to share with children.
Picture book (free PDF)
Young Carers in Bunnyland
Young Carers Illustrations
The first Honey book: a gentle way to explain who young carers are.
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For your practice
Guide (PDF, February 2026)
Resources for Key Stage One and Nursery Classes
Young Carers Illustrations
Activity booklets and story cards for conversations with children aged 8 or under.
Report (November 2024)
Our Youngest Young Carers: Communicating with Pictures
Carers Trust
How pictures can help the youngest carers communicate.
Report (November 2025)
Born to Care
MYTIME Young Carers
A report focused on young carers under five.
Guidance (reviewed March 2024)
Being a young carer: your rights
NHS
Plain guidance on young carers’ rights and support.
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