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The Children’s Commissioner’s office strongly refutes criticisms made in a Guardian article today: The Children’s Commissioner has spent the last 30 years working in the most disadvantaged areas improving children’s outcomes. She is wholly focused on continuing to advocate for vulnerable children, especially those in or involved with the care system. She and her office […]

Every child in care, or involved with children’s services, deserves safety, love and security. Today the Government sets out its implementation strategy for the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care. This strategy rightly acknowledges that things are currently not good enough for vulnerable children, with too many missing out on the right help. As a […]

Good morning everyone and thank you so much for that introduction and to Waddesdon School and all the schools who performed today, you are amazing. Now there’s a bit of a theme going on today. I was taught by nuns too, Gillian. My nuns were at St Bede’s Comprehensive, Scunthorpe, I’ll never forget them, they’ve […]

The Children’s Commissioner has issued the following statement in response to news that unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) have been disappearing from their accommodation.  I am deeply concerned by the risks facing unaccompanied asylum-seeking children placed in hotels from those determined to exploit them. We must treat them as the vulnerable children they are and support […]

I am pleased to see the Government’s response to the Justice Select Committee’s pre-legislative scrutiny report on the draft Victims Bill, specifically the confirmation that they will amend the Bill to include children born as the result of rape within the definition of a victim, as well as children who have witnessed domestic abuse. This […]

Responding to today’s speech by Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, setting out his ambitions for all pupils in England to study some form of maths until aged 18, Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, said: “Having a good grasp on numbers is helpful at all stages of life and can open the door to […]

The Children’s Commissioner has today given a speech at Reach Academy in Feltham to launch Part 2 of her independent Family Review.  Thank you so much for having me, it’s a pleasure to be here and to speak to all of you today. The work you do here at Reach Feltham is fantastic and it’s […]

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 […]