Growing up online: The good, the bad and the potential ban – Lord Nash, Fabio D’Andrea – The Big Conversation Podcast – Episode 13
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 […]
Statement from the Children’s Commissioner on the consultation to improve children’s relationship with mobile phones and social media
Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said: “My first priority will always be the safety of children, who tell me about their negative online experiences of seeing inappropriate, harmful, and extreme content across social media – often without looking for it. They tell me there are sites they would never want their siblings on, and […]
Working with the APPG on Young Carers: Reflections from Emma, Youth Ambassador
My Youth Ambassadors advocate to make children’s lives better across the country. Here, Ambassador Emma reflects on her role working with the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Young Carers and its inquiry into the barriers to higher education, employment and training for young adult carers. The APPG launched its report in Parliament yesterday, which […]
Press Notice: Rise in ‘million-pound placements’ as vulnerable children with additional needs are housed illegally in caravans, holiday camps and AirBnBs
More than half of children housed illegally by councils have Education, Health and Care Plans, new data from the Children’s Commissioner confirms – as the number of illegal placements costing more than £1 million per child has risen since last year. One year on from the Commissioner’s first report into local authorities’ use of illegal homes – including AirBnBs, holiday camps and caravans – to accommodate children in care, data shows very little has changed: on 1st September this year, there were 669 children living in illegal homes, down […]
Children living in illegal children’s homes
Last year, for the first time, I shone a light on children placed in illegal homes – isolated, left without appropriate care, and often at increased risk of harm. These so-called ‘homes’ include caravans, holiday rentals, or AirBnBs, usually under the ownership of private companies with no formal inspection or scrutiny. That first report showed […]
Help at Hand annual report 2024-2025
“I love to learn and be around other children every day. I miss my old friends, which makes me feel sad. I have been looking forward to making new ones, so I don’t feel lonely.” These are the words of an 11-year-old boy, ‘Jack’, who contacted my advice and support service, Help at Hand. Jack, […]
Statement from the Children’s Commissioner on extending free NHS services for care leavers
Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said: “These practical measures aimed at improving outcomes for children leaving care will be a real difference in how they navigate the world. These are not marginal services, but support that can help care leavers overcome challenges to make a successful transition into adulthood – support that other young […]
Statement from the Children’s Commissioner on violence against women and girls (VAWG) strategy
Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said: “This strategy is an important step in our shared ambition to end violence against women and girls. I’m pleased to see many of my recommendations included, especially a new network of ‘Child Houses’, which are hugely valuable services bringing highly skilled professionals together under one roof to care […]
Press Notice: Children say parents in the dark about online experiences, as Children’s Commissioner launches new guide on online safety
Children have told the Children’s Commissioner that their parents and carers do not really understand their online experiences and would be shocked by how common some online harms are, but that if something bad happened online, many would not speak to their families first, if at all. Teenagers aged 13 to 18 said they accepted that bad things can happen online, feeling it was an inevitable part of the online world. They shared how […]
‘What I wish my parents or carers knew…’ Children’s Commissioner launches guide for parents and carers on managing children’s digital lives
As a parent or carer one of the most important parts of your role is keeping your child safe. Parenting doesn’t come with instructions – it can be overwhelming, especially when childhood has changed so fundamentally from what we recognise. It can be hard to keep up with the changes in their lives. But being […]
‘What I wish my parents or carers knew…’: A guide for parents and carers on managing children’s digital lives
Parenting today can feel overwhelming — especially when childhood looks so different from what we grew up with. There’s no manual, and it can be hard to keep up with the fast-changing digital world your child moves through every day. This guide aims to make those conversations easier and help you support your child with […]
Statement from the Children’s Commissioner on new NHS support for child sexual abuse survivors
Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said: “I have long called for a network of Child Houses based on the brilliant Lighthouse in Camden, where child victims of sexual abuse are given a voice and supported by professionals who understand their needs. I have urged Peers and Ministers alike to learn from this model of […]
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
