Statement from the Children’s Commissioner on plans set out by the Home Secretary to look again at cases of child abuse by grooming gangs
Behind every one of the terrible headlines that have resurfaced these past weeks is a child who has been failed and a system that has sidelined their experience and their voice. Holding local services accountable for how they protect the most vulnerable children is essential but must also be supported by strong national leadership. Any […]
Making England to be the best place to be a child – Juno Schwarz, The Drive Forward Foundation
In this guest blog Juno Schwarz, Director of Fundraising, Policy and Communications at The Drive Forward Foundation, addresses the changes needed to make England the best place to be a child. The Drive Forward Foundation works hard to helping young adults leaving foster or residential care to achieve their full potential with exciting and sustainable […]
The changes needed in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
As Children’s Commissioner, I want England to be the best place for children to grow up, where every child can be safe, healthy and happy. My role was born out of the need to hear children’s voices, who too often are excluded and overlooked in a system designed for adults. The death of Sara Sharif, […]
Briefing for MPs on Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill is urgent. The death of Sara Sharif and the recent resurfacing of the crimes by grooming gangs have further highlighted that too many services children rely on are failing – whether that is children missing out on the benefits of school and education, or children living in social care […]
Statement from the Children’s Commissioner on tackling child sexual abuse in response to the testimonies of child victims
Recent news headlines have brought attention back to the horrific details of sexual abuse of children in England by grooming gangs – something I have been working on with survivors for many years.We cannot lose sight of the fact that behind these news headlines are children. Every year, around 500,000 children endure the horror of […]
Policy Adviser
Salary: £35,733 – £39,369 Hours: Full-time Do you want to make a tangible difference to the lives of children across England? Can you use your skills to be a catalyst for creating meaningful change? Are you ready to join a committed team dedicated to giving children and young people a voice on the issues affecting […]
Making England to be the best place to be a child – Jamie Masraff, OnSide
Over the coming weeks I will be sharing a series of guest blogs asking contributors what it would take for England to be the best place to be a child in 2025. Today’s guest blog comes from Jamie Masraff, Chief Executive, OnSide When I think about what it would take for England to be the […]
What children think about fairness and empowerment
“The government should give children who don’t have presents at Christmas toys to play with” – Boy, 9. One of the strongest messages from The Big Ambition responses was that children understand the world, they care about it and want to have their voices listened to when decisions are made about their lives. They […]
Help at Hand care leavers training to professionals
Help at Hand is the Children’s Commissioner’s advice and assistance service for children who are in care, leaving care, working with social services or living away from home. 2024 has been a big year for Help at Hand supporting care leavers. Between September 2023 and August 2024, the team received 1,001 referrals and was able […]
Reflecting on a busy year with Help at Hand
In my four years as Children’s Commissioner for England, I have heard from more than a million children about their hopes and ambitions, and what they want from the adults making decisions in their lives. Crucially, regardless of their circumstances or backgrounds, children want their voices listened to on how to tackle key issues facing […]
Help at Hand annual report 2023-2024
In my four years as Children’s Commissioner for England, I have heard from more than a million children about their hopes and ambitions, and what they want from the adults making decisions in their lives. Crucially, regardless of their circumstances or backgrounds, children want their voices listened to on how to tackle key issues facing […]
The Big Conversation: Ruth Marvel OBE, Duke of Edinburgh Chief Executive
As Children’s Commissioner, young people tell me all the time about the importance of play and activities, especially access to outside spaces. Childhood is precious and every child deserves the opportunity for play and leisure time, alongside a great education. It was clear from The Big Ambition that children have different priorities for community spaces […]
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
