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<p>The government is committed to supporting children and young people to improve
their health and wellbeing, and to protect them from excessive or inappropriate caring
responsibilities that can impact on their education.</p><p>The cross-government ‘Carers
Action Plan’ (published June 2018), a 2 year programme of tailored work to support
unpaid carers of all ages, aims to improve the identification of young carers; improving
their educational opportunities and outcomes; providing support to young carers, particularly
to vulnerable children; and improving access to services. The Children in Need review
is also identifying how to spread best practice on raising educational outcomes.</p><p>The
Department for Education provides schools with £2.4 billion each year in additional
funding through the pupil premium to support disadvantaged pupils. Each eligible pupil
attracts £1,320 to primary schools and £935 to secondary schools. Eligibility for
the pupil premium is based largely on current or past claims for free school meals.
Some research with young carers aged 14-16 suggested that around 60% already attract
the pupil premium through their eligibility for free school meals.</p><p>We expect
schools to make effective use of their pupil premium and do not tell them how to use
it. Schools know their pupils best and will spend the grant to meet pupil needs, which
may include needs arising from a caring role. Schools are held to account for their
pupil premium use through school inspection and information in performance tables,
and most schools are required to publish details about their pupil premium strategy
and its impact.</p><p> </p>
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