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Help at Hand supporting children with mental health needs 

3 August 2023

Children and young people needing support with their mental health feature significantly in the work of Help at Hand, my advice and advocacy service for children in care, leaving care, working with children’s services or living away from home. This could be children who are living with their families but struggling on a daily basis, […]

News
boy sitting in a classroom zoning out

Statement from the Children’s Commissioner on the Illegal Migration Bill

6 July 2023

The Illegal Migration Bill has now completed Report stage in the House of Lords. Since this Bill was first introduced, I have been deeply concerned about the impact it will have on some of the most vulnerable children – those who have been trafficked, or fled persecution and abuse, and arrived on our shores in […]

News

Statement from the Children’s Commissioner on the Illegal Migration Bill

3 May 2023

Statement by Dame Rachel de Souza on the progression of the Government’s Illegal Migration Bill to Report Stage, released Wednesday 26th April: “I welcome the work by MPs in laying amendments that seek to cement children’s rights within the Illegal Migration Bill, but remain deeply disappointed by the continued lack of clarity by the government […]

News

Are we there yet? Our rights, our say

18 December 2020

Children and young people’s voices about their experiences on the delivery of their rights

Report
Girl jumping in puddle

Data protection impact assessment for use of DfE administrative records

1 June 2020

The Children’s Commissioner for England has a statutory responsibility to promote and protect the rights of children in England. Part of the Commissioner’s role is to represent the rights and interests of children across government and scrutinise and review government policy or legislation to understand the potential effects on children. The Children’s Commissioner is granted […]

Corporate Governance

Response to steps taken to relieve councils of certain duties to children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)

12 May 2020

10 June 2020 Update: The Government has now issued a new notice which extends the measures through June. After publication of this response and note, the Government updated its guidance to reflect the fact that the timescales under which LAs and CCGs must comply with binding orders from the First-tier Tribunal have been eased. We […]

News

Statement on changes to regulations affecting children’s social care

30 April 2020

Statement by the Children’s Commissioner for England On Friday 24th April the ‘Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020’ came into force, and are not due to expire until 25th September. These regulations make significant temporary changes to the protections given in law to some of the most vulnerable children in the country – those […]

Statement

Requesting additional safeguards to ensure that children’s rights and best interests are upheld during the coronavirus outbreak

26 March 2020

Read an update to this article posted 12 August 2020 The Children’s Commissioner Anne Longfield has written to both the Permanent Secretary for the Department for Education and the Permanent Secretary for the Department of Health and Social Care requesting additional safeguards for particular measures to ensure that children’s rights and best interests are always […]

News

Annual report 2013-14

15 May 2020

As you read this report, my staff at the Office of the Children’s Commissioner (OCC) and I are three months into fulfilling my reformed remit. On 1 April, following the passing of the Children and Families Act 2014, my role was strengthened. As a result, my primary statutory function is now to promote and protect […]

Corporate Governance

Update on the Illegal Migration Act

19 October 2023

The Illegal Migration Act was introduced on 7th March 2023 and received Royal Assent on 20th July 2023. During its rapid passage through parliament, I raised my concerns about its potential impact on the most vulnerable children. Since its introduction, my team have continued to visit the children who arrive on our shores to seek […]

News

Letter to the Home Secretary on the Illegal Migration Bill

13 March 2023

A letter from the Children’s Commissioner for England to the Home Secretary on the terms of the Illegal Migration Bill. Dear Home Secretary RE: Illegal Migration Bill Thank you for your response to my previous letter, dated 24th February. I am writing to request an urgent meeting to discuss Home Office plans for unaccompanied children […]

News

CCo statement on Illegal Migration Bill 

9 March 2023

As Children’s Commissioner for England, it is my mission to make sure every child is protected from harm and has their rights upheld. I am therefore deeply concerned about the Illegal Migration Bill, as it is opaque on what it means for children and their rights.   Any child arriving in the UK must first and […]

Statement

Archived Content

Child Rights Impact Assessment on Changes to Legal Aid since 2013

30 September 2014

A Child Rights Impact Assessment on Changes to Legal Aid since 2013

Report

Child Rights Impact Assessment

31 October 2013

Child Rights Impact Assessment: 2013 Autumn Statement and 2014 Budget

Report

Child Rights Impact Assessment of Budget Decisions

30 June 2013

A Child Rights Impact Assessment of Budget Decisions

Report

Child Rights Impact Assessment of Anti-Social Behaviour

A Child Rights Impact Assessment of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill (parts 1 – 6; part 9)

Report

Children and Families Bill Child Rights Impact Assessment

27 February 2013

A Child Rights Impact Assessment Of Parts 1-3 of the Children and Families Bill (HC Bill 131)

Report

Proposed model for Child Rights Impact Assessments

30 April 2012

Proposed model for Child Rights Impact Assessments (CRIAs)

Report

Child Rights Impact Assessment of Welfare Reform Bill

31 January 2012

A Child Rights Impact Assessment of Welfare Reform Bill

Report

Many vulnerable children with learning disabilities are stuck in mental health hospitals for too long in poor conditions

20 May 2019

Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner for England, is today publishing a new report, ‘Far less than they deserve: Children with learning disabilities or autism living in mental health hospitals’. The report shows how too many children are being admitted to secure hospitals unnecessarily – in some cases are spending months and years of their childhood […]

News

Anne Longfield’s speech to the National Policing of Children and Young People conference

2 February 2016

We must work together to intervene early, help children to recover and further the life chances of children – especially the most vulnerable.

Speech

UK Children’s Commissioners’ joint statement on tax credits

27 October 2015

We urge the Chancellor, George Osborne, to undertake a full assessment of the likely impact on children of any revised plans regarding tax and benefits and to avoid any measures that will reduce the ability of low income families to provide for their children’s needs.

Statement