Paris 2024: What children said about sport in The Big Ambition
As a country, we have had our fair share of inspiring sporting moments so far this year: the determination of England’s men as they reached the Euros final, Andy and Jamie Murray’s first – and last – Wimbledon doubles match as partners and the impressive rise of teenage darts player Luke Littler, to name just […]
Visit to HMYOI Werrington
Earlier this month, members of my office visited HMYOI Werrington, a Young Offenders Institution (YOI) in Stoke-on-Trent to talk to the children and young people who live there about their lives. Through July and August, my office is visiting every YOI in England and Wales, as well as a number of Secure Children’s Homes, to […]
King’s Speech 2024: Children’s Commissioner’s response
On Wednesday, King Charles outlined the new government’s law-making plans in a speech to Parliament. Among the 39 bills announced was the Children Wellbeing Bill. The Bill aims to transform the life chances for the millions of children and young people in England by introducing new measures in the education and social care systems, including: […]
Tech companies must listen to children, we ignore their views at our peril
Since becoming Children’s Commissioner, I have spoken to more than one million children. They have shared their hopes for the future with me, as well as their worries. Among the biggest worries is how to protect themselves online. Ofcom’s consultation on the Children’s Code closes this week. This is a key moment in the delivery […]
Children’s Commissioner’s response to HMIP report on conditions at Feltham Young Offenders Institution
Today’s report from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) on conditions at Feltham Young Offenders Institution is a horrifying reminder that urgent work to make sure no child grows up in prison needs to start now. The review, carried out by HMIP in March, found that conditions had significantly deteriorated since the last inspection two […]
Statement from the Children’s Commissioner on Manston, Kent
“My advocacy team visited Manston in Kent this week in response to concerns raised regarding the welfare of children and families arriving there. I have shared those concerns with the Home Office and the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration. “Conditions in Kent can change quickly, with a change in weather and a spike […]
Every child in care should have a loving, stable home
There are around 400,000 children in England in touch with children’s social care, at the latest count. Like all of the almost 12 million children in England, they deserve to be safe, happy and listened to, supported by consistently high-quality services. The Big Ambition survey reached around 13,700 children with a social worker, around 700 […]
100 Voices for 100 Days: Putting children’s voices at the heart government
“Children and young people should be able to speak their truths and be confident in sharing their beliefs and concerns to decision-makers.” – Zara, Children’s Commissioner young Ambassador Over the last three years, as Children’s Commissioner, I have heard from more than a million children about their hopes, fears, experiences and their ambitions for the […]
First time voters: my Youth Ambassadors reflect on voting in their first general election
As Children’s Commissioner, I hear from children every day about their ambitions, their experiences and the people or things in their lives that make a difference. It is my job to listen to what children say and ensure that their voices are heard and acted upon by those in positions of power: politicians, policy makers, […]
The Big Ambition: Local area maps
The Big Ambition was a large-scale consultation of children in England carried out between September 2023 and January 2024 by the Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza. It engaged with more than 367,000 children (including adults on behalf of children) over a broad set of questions about their lives and what they think […]
Educated in Britain and graduating in Ukraine: a reflection from my young Ambassador
Today I am sharing a blog post written by my young Ambassador Sofia. Sofia was forced to leave her home because of the war in Ukraine and come to England. At the end of June, she returned to Ukraine for her graduation – I have asked her to share some of her experiences: The UK […]
The Big Ambition for a Better World: Reflections from my Ambassadors
Today’s children are socially aware and politically engaged; they understand the power that politicians have to directly impact their lives. They saw it first-hand during Covid. One of the strongest messages to come out of The Big Ambition was the desire for a fairer and more equitable world. Children want to change the world, they […]
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
