My first act as Children’s Commissioner was to listen to children. My 2021 survey of over half a million young people, The Big Ask, found that children of all backgrounds and abilities, right across the country, were happy, optimistic, and determined. But it was undeniable that some children – particularly many disabled children – face additional barriers to achieving their goals.
The voices of those children stayed with me. Since, I have undertaken studies into the lives, experiences and needs of disabled children. They have told me of schools and other public services not designed around their and their family’s needs. About feeling like their uniqueness and diverse strengths weren’t celebrated as they should be. In fact, sometimes they were met with hostility and closed doors. I have exposed that some children with the most complex needs are spending months, even years stuck in hospital because fundamental system failures. Too many children and parents are having to spend their lives fighting for just the basic support.
I’ve continued to challenge the government to do better. My School and College Census and Children’s Plan showed that we do not have a system that works for children with complex needs and difficult lives. This was my message to government as it set about reforming the special education needs and disabilities system (SEND), and this is my message today.
I write this as we approach the summer holidays – a time of excitement; a chance to explore the world beyond school. I’ve been travelling the country to promote my final survey. From Scouts hiking Hadrian’s Wall to talented young musicians in Suffolk, I love seeing joyful activities – where children are learning, making friends and getting a sense of being part of something bigger than themselves. But, sadly, for too many disabled children this is not what the start of summer feels like – too many of them tell me that they cannot even use their local playground, let alone go to a football, drama or arts club like their friends.
Many of these disabled children will also be living in families who are struggling with the cost of living – and the extra costs that disabled people face – struggling even to put food on the table. That is why part of this report focuses on the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, which aims to close the gap in children’s experiences of their school holidays. I have seen first-hand how transformative it can be – bringing fun and a chance to try new things for children, and how it relieves the costs of childcare for parents. But I have heard from some children that their local holiday programmes are not accessible or are too far away. This report reveals that disabled children who are eligible for the Holiday Activities and Food programme are less likely to attend than other children – our best estimate is 14% of children with identified SEND accessed it, compared to an estimated 22% of children without SEND[1]. The HAF programme has been offered to more and more children each year, I want this to continue and see disabled children guaranteed access to this wonderful programme.
That is why, I am calling for more resource to ensure that all areas are able to run fully inclusive HAFs, so that no disabled child misses out This isn’t a pipedream. There are great examples of inclusive HAFs offering adapted activities giving disabled children and their families special moments. From yoga to hockey to football. It means having fun: Doing karaoke with their friends, painting their nails and dressing up; it means being creative: Making art with new materials, doing talent shows and getting to show their friends and family what they’ve achieved.
Every disabled child, no matter their background, should be able to realise their right to play – because while the benefits of play, fun and connection may be hard to measure, all of us who care about children know that the freedom and opportunity to play is the true measure of a childhood well-lived.
[1] This estimate is based on LA reported data as opposed to administrative data and does not capture SEND-specialist places
Related Reports
Children’s and Young People’s Mental Health Services: 2024-25
As I enter my final year as Children’s Commissioner, one thing is clear: before we make decisions that affect young people, we need to listen to young people. Children’s mental health is no exception. I am in no doubt that we are facing a crisis in young people’s mental health. The number of children with a referral […]
The Children’s Commissioner’s response to the Home Office consultation on changes to the provision of support for failed asylum-seeker families
As Children’s Commissioner, I have a statutory duty to protect and promote the rights of children – that includes all children who arrive in this country, no matter how they get here or what their asylum status is. I have always been clear that it is for government to determine the right rules and levels […]
Growing up in the online world: a national consultation – Response from the Children’s Commissioner
In the time I have been Children’s Commissioner, the online world has changed rapidly, as have the ways in which children interact with it. Perhaps the single biggest change is this: we used to speak about the differences between children’s offline and online lives. But over the time I have served as Commissioner, the walls […]
