Current status: Answered by Angela Constance on 19 June 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent report by Carers Week, Building Carer Friendly Communities, which found that schools were seen as the least carer-friendly organisation/service in Scotland, what action it plans to take to improve the support available for carers in schools.
We recognise the importance of young carers being identified in schools so that they can be supported in achieving their educational and wider goals. This is why we fund an Education Officer at Carers Trust Scotland, who works with Education Scotland, the General Teaching Council for Scotland and the Scottish Qualification Authority help ensure education staff are aware of young carers and can support them appropriately.
This work has included producing an online learning module, accredited by Education Scotland, for education staff to help them better understand how they can identify and support young carers.
Also, through this work we have funded Carers Trust Scotland’s “Young Carers School Challenge” pilot. This programme supports and encourages all schools who sign up to: -
Our National Carers Strategy has driven cross-government action to ensure young carers are identified, supported and protected from inappropriate caring, helping to reduce negative impacts on their education, social lives and future opportunities, including support in educational settings.
The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 states that children and young people with support needs, including young carers, should have these identified and met. The Code of Practice recognises that home life can affect a child’s ability to engage in education and highlights that young carers may need support to balance school and caring responsibilities, including flexible learning arrangements. Local authorities have a legal duty to identify and support those with additional support needs.
The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all children and young people experience public services consistently upholding their rights. We encourage all Local Authorities to take a children’s rights approach in the delivery of all their services, regardless of the source of their powers.