Letters to the Permanent Secretaries for the DfE and MHCLG regarding COVID-19 and children in care
The following are two letters sent from the Children’s Commissioner to the Permanent Secretaries for the Department for Education and Ministry of Housing, Local Government and Communities regarding COVID-19 and children in care. Download and view the letter, sent to both Jeremy Pocklington and Jonathan Slater Find the full text of the letters below; Dear […]
Health inequalities briefing
Last week’s ‘Marmot Report: 10 Years On’ outlined the stark realities of health inequalities in Britain. It also demonstrated how these inequalities originate in childhood and persist through adult life. This paper highlights some of the main inequalities in child health, and the key responses to address this. Including measures we would like to see […]
Families living with no recourse to public funds
Certain vulnerable children in England cannot receive free school meals because their eligibility is linked to their parent’s immigration status. Free school meals are provided in all state schools for children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. From Year 3 onwards, parents can apply for free school meals if they claim certain state benefits. […]
Responding to the DfE’s announcement on children in care living in unregulated accommodation
Anne Longfield, Children’s Commissioner for England, responding to the Department for Education’s announcement on children in care living in unregulated accommodation, said: “Banning the use of unregulated accommodation for under 16s and new national standards for unregulated accommodation that require registration with Ofsted are long overdue. I have heard horror stories about very vulnerable children […]
Responding to the multi-agency report on children sexually abused within the family
Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner for England, responding to the multi-agency report on children sexually abused within the family, said: “In 2015, I published a report warning that the vast majority of children who have been sexually abused at home were not known to the authorities and that a system which waits for children to […]
Tackling harmful content on Facebook – Anne Longfield’s letter to Facebook’s Head of Global Affairs, Nick Clegg
The following open letter to Nick Clegg, Facebook’s Head of Global Affairs, was published in The Daily Telegraph on Jan 30, 2020. Dear Sir Nick, I was very interested to hear the interview you gave the BBC from Davos as Facebook’s Head of Global Affairs. You were discussing concerns I have been raising about your […]
The state of children’s mental health services – Local area maps
2018/19 Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) levels of five key indicators used to assess children’s mental health services
The state of children’s mental health services 2018/19
Children are now more aware of their own mental health, and much more prepared to discuss it. This is very welcome. But children are also aware of how hard it is to get help, for them or for their friends. Accessing services remains the biggest issue for children’s mental health services. The stories I hear […]
Children’s mental health report warns ‘chasm’ remains between what services are available and what children need
Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner for England, has published her third annual children’s mental health briefing, ‘The state of children’s mental health services’. The report shines a light on the provision of Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services (CYPMHS) for the hundreds of thousands of children who need help, support and treatment. The briefing […]
Responding to the Chief Inspector of Prisons’ report on the separation of children in young offender institutions
Anne Longfield, Children’s Commissioner for England, responding to today’s report by the Chief Inspector of Prisons, said: “This report paints a grim picture of the treatment of some of the most vulnerable children in Young Offender Institutions (YOIs). My office published a report on segregation in 2018 which raised many of these issues and the […]
Keeping kids safe, Anne Longfield’s article for the Huffington Post
This week’s publication of the inquiry into the catastrophic failures to protect very vulnerable children in Greater Manchester is another reminder of how agencies and authorities whose job it is to protect those at risk have too often let them down. The details are atrocious and the impact of the mistakes that were made will still be […]
County lines gangs – a letter to the Editor of The Times
The Prime Minister’s decision to tackle the gang leaders who are targeting our kids through a cross-government Cabinet committee should be applauded. For far too long, entrenched problems with certain groups of teenagers have been passed around Whitehall and from one service to another on the ground. Teenagers with similar needs can be found in […]
Archived Content
Thousands of children growing up in shipping containers, office blocks and B&Bs
The terrible reality of how some children are living in converted shipping containers and office blocks, and B&Bs, in cramped conditions
Insights into the lives of children and young people
This blog looks at 3 recent studies that provide interesting insights about the lives and views of children.
Leon Feinstein appointed Professor at the Rees Centre
Professor Leon Feinstein has been appointed to the post of Professor of Education and Children’s Social Care at the Rees Centre.
The Government should finally make ‘left behind’ children its priority
Boris Johnson has this week established three new cabinet committees on Brexit, and one on the whole of the domestic policy agenda. This is a clear indication of the dominance of this one issue for our new Prime Minister. During the leadership election I gave a speech to launch our 3rd Childhood Vulnerability Report where […]
Stability Index 2019
The Stability Index is an annual measure of the stability of the lives of children in care. It was first launched by the Children’s Commissioner in 2017 to shine a light on the issue of stability, provide data that allows stability to be monitored over time, and ultimately drive improvements in stability for children in […]
Explosion in number of older children going into care over last five years is hitting stability of the system
Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner for England, has published the Children’s Commissioner’s 2019 Stability Index, an annual measure of the stability of the lives of children in care in England. The Index was launched in 2017 and shines a light on the number of times children in care move home placement, school or social worker. […]
Children’s Voices: Children’s experiences of instability in the care system
‘Children’s Voices: Children’s experiences of instability in the care system’ is published alongside the Children’s Commissioner’s third annual Stability Index, which measures stability in the care system by looking at how often children in care move home, school or social worker over a year. In addition to this data analysis, the Children’s Commissioner’s Office also […]
Children’s Commissioner Anne Longfield responds to Home Affairs Select Committee report on serious violence
Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner for England, responding to the Home Affairs Select Committee on Serious Violence, said: “This hard-hitting report exposes the dangers facing the many thousands of vulnerable children who are at risk of grooming by ruthless criminal gangs. Many of the mistakes that led to failings in child sexual exploitation are now […]
Annual report 2018-19
My work experience fortnight at the Children’s Commissioner’s Office
Before I begin I just like to introduce myself. I’m Jade. I wasn’t sure what skills or talents I could offer, because to my knowledge I don’t have any, but it turns out that being under the age of 18 was a huge advantage, unlike in literally every other setting, so my input was useful. […]
