An inconsistent approach to SEND, findings from analysis of Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP) from two local authorities in England
This report explores the inconsistencies in the structure, outcomes and timescales of just under 650 EHCPs in two local authorities in England.
Children’s Commissioner welcomes proposals to improve support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP)
“Working really hard with good teachers so that I can become a doctor” – Girl, aged 7, with SEND One of my team was talking to a 14 year old boy in a special school just yesterday about what he would change to make school even better, he said “teachers should have training for SEND […]
Ambition for all – our vision for a school system that works for all children
This paper sets out our vision for the school system in England and outlines the reforms needed to realise that vision.
Commission from Government: Children’s Commissioner Family Review
I am delighted to have been invited by the Minister of State at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Minister for Equalities to undertake an independent review into contemporary family life in Britain. This review was a recommendation of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, which found evidence that family life […]
Child Q – Sorry needs to mean it won’t happen again
Like so many of us, I was appalled and shocked to read the Serious Case Review relating to Child Q, which found the system designed to protect and support her had seriously failed. And I am grateful to Jim Gamble for undertaking it, and giving her the opportunity to be heard, albeit belatedly. Let me […]
The Big Ask Voices: Shining a light on young carers
March 16 marks National Young Carers’ Action Day and this year we would like to shine a light on what young carers told us in The Big Ask about their lives and priorities, their aspirations and worries for the future. The Big Ask is the biggest ever survey of children across England, with over half […]
Online Safety Commission from Government: Our recommendations for making the online world safer for children
This report shares our findings and recommendations for making the online world safer for children, and bringing children’s voices to the heart of the debate around the Online Safety Bill.
Social Worker of the Year Awards: Celebrating World Social Work Day
To celebrate World Social Work Day, I wanted to share my comments from the Social Worker of the Year Awards Parliamentary Reception I attended last week. It’s fantastic to be here today to be celebrating social work. Because we don’t celebrate social work enough. We talk about the failures, we look at serious case reviews […]
Highlighting women using maths in their careers for National Careers Week
To help connect the maths curriculum with careers, skills and everyday life, we are developing a resource for children that will share career profiles of people who use maths in their jobs and how maths has helped them in their careers and lives. These ‘role models’ aren’t necessarily in a maths specific career, but more […]
Where are England’s Children? Interim findings from the Children’s Commissioner’s Attendance Audit
To investigate where children across the country that may be missing out on education are, we have surveyed all 151 English LA’s. This report shares our interim findings.
The Big Ask: International Women’s Day
In April 2021, we launched The Big Ask survey. This was a national consultation exercise with children in England to hear about their aspirations and worries for the future. We received over 550,000 responses, making this the largest ever survey of children in England. We received 51% of responses from girls. From their responses, it […]
One year as Children’s Commissioner: March 2021-March 2022
Foreword from Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza On the first anniversary of my appointment as Children’s Commissioner, I am publishing this report to reflect on my office’s work and achievements for children over the last twelve months. It has been an absolute honour to take on this crucial role, sitting at the […]
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
