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The year ahead – 2025-26 – will be my penultimate year as Children’s Commissioner for England. It will also mark 20 years since the establishment of this office – a milestone that offers an opportunity to reflect on the progress we have made and a reminder about the many urgent challenges that remain. More than […]

The Office of the Children’s Commissioner for England has today laid its annual report and accounts for the period April 2023 to March 2024 before Parliament. Here, the Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza introduces these accounts, a summary of project work, impact and financial activity for the financial year. Children may not have a […]

“During my tenure, I want my work to improve the chances of every single child, whatever their early standing in life, wherever they are, from the inner city to the most remote corner of every county in England.” That quote is from my first day as Children’s Commissioner on 1 March 2021. Three years on […]

The Children’s Commissioner is named in the Prescribed Persons Order 2014 as someone to whom whistle-blowers can raise concerns relating to the rights, welfare and interests of children. Whistle-blowing arrangements offer a framework of protection against victimisation or dismissal for workers who blow the whistle on criminal behaviour or other wrongdoing. Here you can find […]

The Children’s Commissioner is named in the Prescribed Persons Order 2014 as someone to whom whistle-blowers can raise concerns relating to the rights, welfare and interests of children. Whistle-blowing arrangements offer a framework of protection against victimisation or dismissal for workers who blow the whistle on criminal behaviour or other wrongdoing. Here you can find […]

The Children’s Commissioner’s Advisory Board challenges and advises the office and meets four-six times a year. The Advisory Board, a requirement of the Children and Families Act 2014, is made up of representatives from across children’s and wider sectors. The Advisory Board advises on how the powers of the Children’s Commissioner can be used to […]

The Children’s Commissioner’s audit and risk committee provides advice, challenge and scrutiny to the office, including: The committee meets four-five times a year and is made up of representatives from across children’s and wider sectors with a range of backgrounds and experiences. One member must be a qualified accountant, and the chair of the committee […]

We publish details of all spending over £25,000 on a quarterly basis. 1 April 2024 – 30 June 2024 Transaction date Merchant name Transaction amount Entity Details 8/4/2024 Department for Education £31,431.72 OCC IT services 1 July 2024 – 30 September 2024 Transaction date Merchant name Transaction amount Entity Details 13/9/2024 Government Property Agency £105,243.00 […]

1 April 2024 – 30 June 2024 Transaction date Merchant name Transaction amount Entity Details 24/4/2024 Emirates £1,442.40 OCC Flight change fees   (for 2 persons) 4/6/2024 Hotel Telegraaf, Estonia £807.97 OCC Hotel Accommodation 18/6/2024 Hootsuite £1,160.10 OCC Social Media Services 1 July 2024 – 30 September 2024 Transaction date Merchant name Transaction amount Entity Details […]

The Children’s Commissioner is now halfway through her term. The coming year will be a critical one for children’s rights, with a General Election and a new government – whichever party or parties form it. They will have a new mandate to set an ambitious vision for what childhood can be, and for putting children’s […]

The purpose of this paper is to provide a self-assessment on the progress the Children’s Commissioner’s Office has made against its three-year strategic (2021 -2024) plan. This has been divided into two sections: