Putting children’s voices at the heart of the NHS 10-Year planÂ
The government is currently consulting on the NHS 10-Year Plan, which will set the course for our health service over the next decade. It is critical that children and young people are not left out of this national conversation, so I was delighted that some of my Young Ambassadors and members of my newly formed […]
The Big Conversation Podcast – Episode 6 – Mina Gerhardsen, Norwegian Ombudsperson for Children
The Big Conversation: In conversation with the Children’s Commissioner and her youth Ambassadors is my podcast series where I share the voices and views of England’s children. The podcast draws on the themes in The Big Ambition and will focus on the most important issues that are impacting young people’s lives, with solutions developed with […]
The Big Conversation: Angela Salt, Girlguiding Chief ExecutiveÂ
In The Big Ambition, one of the starkest findings was about self-esteem and image. Fewer than half of children (49%) agreed with the statement ‘you feel happy with the way you look’: 60% of boys, compared to just 40% of girls. As Children’s Commissioner, I want both of those numbers to be much higher. Both […]
Electoral Commission: Young people want to learn more about politics and democracy
This guest blog from the Electoral Commission outlines Welcome to Your Vote Week. This week is Welcome to Your Vote Week, an annual event run by the Electoral Commission with schools and youth groups to celebrate democracy. The theme this year is ‘get informed and get involved’, which highlights the importance of supporting young people […]
Celebrating International Women’s Day: views from my Young AmbassadorsÂ
The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is ‘Accelerate Action’. On this day of marking women and girls’ contributions to society, while also reflecting on the collective action still needed to create a more inclusive and equal world, I’ve asked some of my Young Ambassadors to share one thing they would change to make […]
Celebrating World Book Day and the importance of reading Â
Today is World Book Day, an important moment to reflect on the power of storytelling to inspire, educate and connect young people across the world. Reading is a fundamental right – one that opens doors, fuels imaginations and shapes futures. Yet, for too many children, this right remains out of reach for a number of […]
Ensuring youth voice is at the heart of reforms to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities system
One of the biggest concerns that young people and their parents raise with me is about a lack of support for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) across England. Ever since I took up my role four years ago, I have been calling for radical reform of the SEND system, so it is […]
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 […]
Press Notice: Children in youth custody ‘failed before they arrive’, trapping them in a cycle of disadvantageÂ
A new report from the Children’s Commissioner has revealed children in prison have been failed by multiple services long before they arrive in custody, and their time in the justice system worsens their disadvantages and limits future opportunities. Dame Rachel de Souza’s report examines children’s experiences before and during their time in youth custody, identifying […]
Statement from the Children’s Commissioner on making Child Criminal Exploitation a criminal offence
As Children’s Commissioner, I know the criminal exploitation of children is a complex type of abuse that causes harm to victims in a way that has for too long been undercounted and poorly understood. Many children targeted by adult criminals themselves face punishment instead of support. Like too many child victims, they are often ignored […]
Celebrating Care Day 2025, what children told The Big Ambition about careÂ
Today is Care Day, an important opportunity to celebrate children and young people with care experience: to amplify their voices and reflect on the support they need to thrive. As Children’s Commissioner, I have a statutory duty to promote and protect the rights of all children, with particular regard to children who are living away […]
The Big Conversation Podcast – Episode 5 – Angela Salt, CEO, Girlguiding
The Big Conversation: In conversation with the Children’s Commissioner and her youth Ambassadors is my podcast series where I share the voices and views of England’s children. The podcast draws on the themes in The Big Ambition and will focus on the most important issues that are impacting young people’s lives, with solutions developed with […]
Archived Content
Improving the living situation of children living in secure accommodation
Anne Longfield, Children’s Commisioner for England, has written to Vicky Ford MP, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families, Lucy Frazer QC MP, Minister of State, Ministry of Justice and Nadine Dorries MP, Minister for Patient Safety, Suicide Prevention and Mental Health regarding concerns about children in living in secure accommodation, particularly those […]
Children in custody during lockdown
Since the start of the Covid pandemic, the Children’s Commissioner’s Office has investigated and highlighted concerns about the treatment of children in secure settings. Our briefing in May used data collected from the Youth Custody Service (YCS) alongside a series of interviews with children to shine a light on conditions for children in custody during […]
Help at Hand annual report 2020
Our 2020 annual report for Help at Hand, our advice line for children in care.
Response to the DfE’s announcement on unregulated accommodation for children in care
Anne Longfield, responding to the DfE’s announcement on unregulated accommodation for children in care, said: “The Government’s ban on unregulated provision for under-16s in care is very welcome, but needs to go further and include all under-18s. There are too many teenage children in care living in completely unsuitable and sometimes dangerous accommodation, including hostels […]
Five things you need to know about SEN in schools
How children’s needs are met (or go unmet) in schools, and the implications of these for the SEND Review and other reforms
Building back better
When I became Children’s Commissioner for England six years ago, I set out an ambitious vision for a nation where childhood is understood and celebrated and where the voice of all children is listened to at the heart of Government. I had in mind a particular group of children who, in my experience of working […]
Building back better – Anne Longfield’s final speech as Children’s Commissioner
 Anne Longfield, Children’s Commissioner for England, has delivered her final speech in post with a challenge to the Prime Minister to show he is serious about children by putting them at the heart of his post-Covid plans. Her speech warned that the Prime Minister’s promise to ‘level up’ will be ‘just a slogan unless […]
Speech
Characteristics of children entering care for the first time as teenagers
Last year, research from my office showed that even before the pandemic, there were 120,000 highly vulnerable children in England who were falling through the gaps in education and social care. This group of children – equivalent to 1 in 25 13-17 year olds – all had significant additional needs and vulnerabilities but were not […]
Spend over £25,000: 2020 – 2021
We publish details of all spending over £25,000 on a quarterly basis. 1 April 2020 – 30 June 2020 Nil 1 July 2020 – 30 September 2020 Transaction date Merchant name Transaction amount Entity Details 14/08/2020 National Audit Office £33,600.00 OCC External Audit Services 1 October 2020 – 31 December 2020 Nil 1 January 2021 […]
Still not safe
The public health response to youth violence
