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<p>The Department for Education has changed the law to improve how young carers are
identified and supported. This change consolidates and simplifies legislation relating
to young carers’ assessments, making rights and duties clearer to both young people
and practitioners; extends the right to an assessment of needs for support to all
young carers regardless of who they care for or what type of care they provide; and
makes it clear to local authorities that they must carry out an assessment of a young
carer’s needs for support on request or on the appearance of need. These new duties
come into effect in April 2015. The changes we have introduced apply to all children,
including those aged sixteen to eighteen in further education.</p><p> </p><p>The Department
recognises that we do not have reliable information about the numbers of young carers
in England. This is why we have initiated a research project which, for the first
time, will provide reliable information about the numbers and needs of young carers
and their families.</p>
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