Based on data from more than 100 local authorities, a study by the commissioner's office found that as many as 130,000 children aged between five and 17 with caring responsibilities may be unknown to local authorities.
Of the 18,000 young carers who were brought to the attention of local authorities in 2015/16, one third were rejected without assessment.
This is despite councils being legally required to assess referrals. Even when assessments are carried out, many councils are unable to offer support as they are "prioritising their statutory requirement to assess referrals over the actual provision of support, which is less clearly defined in law", the commissioner found.
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