Help at Hand supporting children with mental health needs
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, […]
Statement from the Children’s Commissioner on the Illegal Migration Bill
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 […]
Statement from the Children’s Commissioner on the Illegal Migration Bill
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 […]
Are we there yet? Our rights, our say
Children and young people’s voices about their experiences on the delivery of their rights
Data protection impact assessment for use of DfE administrative records
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 […]
Response to steps taken to relieve councils of certain duties to children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
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 […]
Statement on changes to regulations affecting children’s social care
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
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 […]
Annual report 2013-14
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 […]
Update on the Illegal Migration Act
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 […]
Letter to the Home Secretary on the Illegal Migration Bill
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 […]
CCo statement on Illegal Migration Bill
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
Children’s Commissioner commenting on “The UK’s Compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child”
The Government’s record on children’s issues has been mixed. It made a bold move in 2010 when it promised to give ‘due regard’ to children’s rights in the development of law and policy and I welcome the Joint Committee on Human Rights’ review of progress on this commitment published today.
Business plan 2019-20
At a school in Newcastle this year, I met a group of sixth formers who talked to me about what needed to change for them to have the kind of future they aspired to. They were gritty, realistic and knew where they wanted to get to in life, but they couldn’t see how to get […]
Head of Policy Graham Richie’s speech at Sexual Abuse & Sexual Violence Awareness Week
It is my firm belief that we have a fantastic opportunity to make considerable progress over the next few years.