Family Review: What children told us in our first Call to Action
Today, I am excited to launch the results from the first Call to Action for the Family Review. There was a fantastic response, with over 3,700 respondents telling us about their thoughts and feelings on family, and what their family means to them. Children used over 1000 different words to describe family, highlighting the variety […]
Confederation of School Trusts 2022 conference: Truly Civic
Thank you, Leora, for inviting me to speak at the Confederation of Schools Trusts (CST) 2022 conference – it was an honour. From poet Harry Baker to Dr Jo Saxton, chief regulator of Ofqual, it really was a ‘Truly Civic’ conference. Please see below my speech from the conference. Good morning everyone – I am […]
The Children’s Commissioner’s visit to Ark Boulton Academy for the Family Review
One of the most enjoyable parts of my job is that I get to meet inspirational children and see fantastic schools. And at today’s visit to Ark Boulton Academy – I got to do just that. It was a pleasure to speak with a group pupils from the Ark Boulton Academy about family and what […]
How speaking to parents and carers about their children’s attendance illustrates the interconnectedness of family life
As work continues on the Family Review, we are again reflecting on our recent Attendance Audit. This project was a series of deep dives in 10 local authorities to understand the experiences of children who are not attending school or are out of education altogether. In the Audit, the office has heard how children’s family […]
Call to action for parents of young children
Family Review call for action for parents of young children to have your say!
Our first Call to Action – Interactive website
We received a great response to our first Call to Action, which was asking children directly about what family means to them.
The Children’s Commissioner publishes Voices of England’s Missing Children report
Last year, I launched The Big Ask survey, to hear from England’s children about what matters most to them. Just over half a million children responded to The Big Ask – making it the largest-ever survey of children in the world. What I heard was inspiring, we are dealing with an ambitious group of children […]
Voices of England’s Missing Children
This report identifies the key reasons why children are not in school and puts forward a blueprint to help make sure all children are in school, ready to learn, every day.
The Children’s Commissioner speaks at Ministerial roundtable on children’s experiences of racism and the case of Child Q
Today, I attended a roundtable at the Department for Education to speak about children’s views and experiences of racism. This was following the shocking and appalling case of Child Q, a 15 year-old girl who was strip-searched by the police at her school. We discussed what needs to change so that lessons are learned from […]
Children’s Commissioner gives evidence to the Justice Select Committee on the draft Victims’ Bill
Today, I gave evidence to the Justice Select Committee on the draft Victims’ Bill. I highlighted areas in which the draft Bill should be strengthened for children. Last week, I set out my thoughts on the Bill in more detail from the perspective of children. Overall, the Bill needs to fully reflect child victims’ voices […]
Back into School
Back into school resources to ensure that children, schools, parents and professionals who work with children are confident for the return to school in September.
Resources for schools
Back into School resources for schools from the Children’s Commissioner
Archived Content
Improving the living situation of children living in secure accommodation
Anne Longfield, Children’s Commisioner for England, has written to Vicky Ford MP, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families, Lucy Frazer QC MP, Minister of State, Ministry of Justice and Nadine Dorries MP, Minister for Patient Safety, Suicide Prevention and Mental Health regarding concerns about children in living in secure accommodation, particularly those […]
Children in custody during lockdown
Since the start of the Covid pandemic, the Children’s Commissioner’s Office has investigated and highlighted concerns about the treatment of children in secure settings. Our briefing in May used data collected from the Youth Custody Service (YCS) alongside a series of interviews with children to shine a light on conditions for children in custody during […]
Help at Hand annual report 2020
Our 2020 annual report for Help at Hand, our advice line for children in care.
Response to the DfE’s announcement on unregulated accommodation for children in care
Anne Longfield, responding to the DfE’s announcement on unregulated accommodation for children in care, said: “The Government’s ban on unregulated provision for under-16s in care is very welcome, but needs to go further and include all under-18s. There are too many teenage children in care living in completely unsuitable and sometimes dangerous accommodation, including hostels […]
Five things you need to know about SEN in schools
How children’s needs are met (or go unmet) in schools, and the implications of these for the SEND Review and other reforms
Building back better
When I became Children’s Commissioner for England six years ago, I set out an ambitious vision for a nation where childhood is understood and celebrated and where the voice of all children is listened to at the heart of Government. I had in mind a particular group of children who, in my experience of working […]
Building back better – Anne Longfield’s final speech as Children’s Commissioner
 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 […]
Speech
Characteristics of children entering care for the first time as teenagers
Last year, research from my office showed that even before the pandemic, there were 120,000 highly vulnerable children in England who were falling through the gaps in education and social care. This group of children – equivalent to 1 in 25 13-17 year olds – all had significant additional needs and vulnerabilities but were not […]
Spend over £25,000: 2020 – 2021
We publish details of all spending over £25,000 on a quarterly basis. 1 April 2020 – 30 June 2020 Nil 1 July 2020 – 30 September 2020 Transaction date Merchant name Transaction amount Entity Details 14/08/2020 National Audit Office £33,600.00 OCC External Audit Services 1 October 2020 – 31 December 2020 Nil 1 January 2021 […]
Still not safe
The public health response to youth violence
