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Thank you so much. First, for having me to speak here today, but more importantly for the work that you do to support children and their families, to help them to stay together where possible, or provide safe alternatives when needed. Before becoming Children’s Commissioner I dedicated my professional life to education – as a […]

Let me start by paying tribute to the children, parents and staff who spoke out. The suffering they endured is unthinkable and an all too tragic reminder that this kind of abuse is not a thing of the past. It is happening now, and everyone working with and for children must act to make sure […]

Like many, I was shocked and saddened by the horrendous murder of Leiland-James Corkill, by those who should have loved and cared for him. My thoughts are with all of Leiland-James’ family, especially his mother Laura. The pictures of Leiland-James as a happy smiling baby remind us of the life he should have been able […]

I am really pleased to see some important measures being introduced in today’s Queen’s Speech. Some of these I have been calling for, on children’s behalf, based on the things they have told me are important to them.  Online Safety Bill I am glad to see the Online Safety Bill carried over from the previous […]

The following speech was given by Dame Rachel de Souza, Children’s Commissioner for England, at the Independent Children’s Homes Association‘s conference on residential child care which took place on 10 June 2021. *** This is my first speech about the children’s social care system since becoming Children’s Commissioner for England in March. And I want […]

 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 […]

Yesterday, new EU ePrivacy rules came into effect which introduced new limits on the way in which technology companies can use messaging and calling data. The rules undermine the ability of companies to use established, privacy-preserving tools such as PhotoDNA to identify child sexual abuse imagery and grooming on their platforms. These tools work in […]

Anne Longfield, responding to today’s ruling by the Court of Appeal on removing safeguards for children in care, said: “I am delighted that the Court of Appeal has recognised the vital importance of the voice of the child in care in decisions taken that affect them – including, and I would argue especially, during a […]

It is clear now that the algorithm used by Ofqual to determine this year’s ‘A’ level and GCSE results is irredeemably flawed. It is not in children’s interests for weeks of appeals and arguments among adults to continue. Nor is it in the interest of schools, which should be focusing on their final preparations for […]

A-Level students across the country are today receiving their grades, without having taken any final exams. Some will be celebrating, as they get the grades needed to take the next step in their education or begin their career. Sadly, many other students will be disappointed. While this is always the case on results day, the […]

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 […]

Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner for England, is today (Tuesday) publishing a new report “We need to talk: Access to speech and language therapy“, which shines a light on spending on speech and language therapy services (SLT) for children across the country to help identify where children who need support are falling through the gaps. […]