As Children’s Commissioner it is my duty to promote and protect the rights of all children, with particular regard to children who are living away from home or receiving social care services. My priority is to listen to children across the country, to hear about their lives and champion their voices.
Our priority areas
The Big Conversation
We launched The Big Conversation survey to hear the voices and views from children and young people across England to share what children really want with politicians and decision makers so they can listen and then act.
The Big Ambition
We launched the Big Ambition to hear from children in the lead up to the next General Election on their lives, and what they want from the government to improve them. Findings from the survey were published and launched in Parliament in March 2024, adding to the work of the office over the past three years to bring the voices and experiences of a million children to politicians.
School Survey
We launched the biggest ever survey of schools and colleges in England, to capture up-to-date information about children’s experiences of school – to drive improvements in how they receive support.
Latest News
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Press Notice: Children’s Commissioner calls for immediate ban of AI apps that enable ‘deepfake’ sexual abuse of children28 April 2025News and blogs -
Statement from the Children’s Commissioner on the proposed use of pelargonic acid vanillylamide (PAVA) on children in Young Offender Institutions24 April 2025Statement -
Statement from the Children’s Commissioner on Ofcom’s new Children’s Safety CodesStatement
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Looking back at the Festival of ChildhoodNews and blogs -
Press Notice: Most headteachers restrict mobile phones in school hours – but major new survey shows online harms still among their biggest concerns10 April 2025Statement
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Statement from the Children’s Commissioner on action plan to tackle grooming gangs and sexual abuse9 April 2025News and blogs
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Press Notice: ‘Crisis in childhood’ warns Children’s Commissioner, as she hosts inaugural Festival of Childhood – calling on decision makers to listen to children3 April 2025Statement
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Press Notice: Children living in unfit housing must have voices heard, Children’s Commissioner warns as she reveals its stark impact on their GCSE success28 March 2025Statement
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No child should be homeless: how housing instability affects a child’s GCSE gradesNews and blogs
Latest Reports
“One day this could happen to me” – Children, nudification tools and sexually explicit deepfakes
The growth of the online world is a technological revolution, the likes of which hasn’t been witnessed in centuries. The internet has enhanced our lives immeasurably, by opening up education, communication and research in ways those of us who are now well into our adulthoods might never have imagined. For children growing up in 2025, […]
School phone policies in England: Findings from the Children’s Commissioner’s School and College Survey
Over the last four years, I have spoken to a million young people and thousands of parents about the most pressing issues facing children growing up in England today. One issue that comes up time and again – from children, parents, and professionals alike – is online safety. While digital technology provides young people with […]
My Plan for the year, 2025-26
I’ve designed a version of my Business Plan aimed specifically for children and young people, sharing the projects and themes that my office will be working on. As Children’s Commissioner for England, it is my job to listen to you and take your voices to decision makers. In my survey, The Big Ambition, only one […]
Business Plan, 2025-26
The year ahead – 2025-26 – will be my penultimate year as Children’s Commissioner for England. It will also mark 20 years since the establishment of this office – a milestone that offers an opportunity to reflect on the progress we have made and a reminder about the many urgent challenges that remain. More than […]
The impact of housing instability on children’s GCSE grades
Every child should have a loving, secure home, but when it comes to housing, children get a raw deal. Thousands of children are living in temporary accommodation, including many in emergency ‘B&B’ style accommodation for longer than the statutory six-week limit1 – and they are paying the price of this disruption and instability in their […]
The educational journeys of children in secure settings
Since becoming Children’s Commissioner nearly four years ago, I’ve made it my mission to listen to young people in some of the most challenging circumstances, facing the most uncertain futures. Children living in secure settings are at the sharpest end of this definition. Their numbers are small, with around 400 at any one time located […]
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill: Children’s Commissioner’s Written Evidence
The Children’s Commissioner welcomes the opportunity to submit written evidence to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill Committee. This evidence builds on oral evidence provided by the Children’s Commissioner on 21 January, on a wider briefing on the Bill that was provided to the Committee and published on the Children’s Commissioner’s website, and on prior […]
Equal protection from assault for children – Briefing for the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
The Children’s Commissioner wants England to be the best place for children to grow up. Every child should be safe, healthy and happy – and not live in fear. However currently in England, children are the only people who are not fully protected in law from assault and battery. The ‘reasonable punishment’ defence in common […]
Children’s involvement in the 2024 riots
Last July, the country was rocked by the murders of three little girls in Southport. Bebe King, Alice da Silva Aguiar and Elsie Dot Stancombe who were killed while taking part in a dance class during their summer holiday; a scene of simple childhood innocence destroyed by terrifying violence. The initial response from the community […]
