Corporate
Governance

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 […]

This Annual Report covers the Children’s Commissioner’s year to the end of March 2015. For all but one month of that time, my predecessor Maggie Atkinson was Children’s Commissioner for England and I would like to record my thanks to her and the team who supported her for much of the work detailed herein. Bringing […]

All children should have the right to the best start in life with the love, security and opportunities they need to grow and flourish. Most of the 11.5 million children growing up in England have just those overwhelmingly positive opportunities. For them, England is a great place to grow up. However, there is no room […]

When I was appointed Children’s Commissioner in 2015, I published “Ambitious for Children” which set out my priorities for my term in office – building the aspirations of children, particularly those who have a difficult start in life, and shining a light on the hidden issues affecting the vulnerable in order to change their lives […]

Half way through my term as Children’s Commissioner, I am as ambitious and aspirational for children as I ever was. This role is a constant reminder that a childhood that is happy and full of love is the best springboard to adult life that any of us could have; that children are resourceful, and achieve […]

This Framework Agreement sets out the respective responsibilities of the Department for Education and the Children’s Commissioner to support work of both organisations by: ensuring that effective corporate governance arrangements are in place; supported by the design of adequate and effective internal controls that demonstrate value for money; and are in fulfilment of the statutory […]

This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) sets out the UK Commissioners’ and Republic of Ireland Ombudsman’s intentions as to how they wish their offices to work together for the benefit of children and young people throughout their jurisdictions.

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 provides public access to information held by public authorities. The Act requires every public authority to have a publication scheme to make certain types of information routinely available.

The Children’s Commissioner’s Office is committed to complying with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and any related legislation, which is, applicable. This policy applies to all the information we hold – that is all information created, received, and maintained by our staff in the course of their work.

We gather, hold, analyse and use substantial amounts of personal data in discharging its functions and are a data controller for that personal data. It is required to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (‘GDPR’) and the Data Protection Act 2018 (‘DPA’). This document outlines how we seek to ensure compliance with that legislation. […]

This is my final year as Children’s Commissioner, a post it has been a pleasure and a privilege to hold. We’ve spent the time relentlessly showing government where children are falling through gaps in the system – it’s undeniable that there is a group of kids who are left out of the nation’s progress. They […]