Press Notice: Colleges are stepping in to provide students with support, despite delays in key information about their additional needs, Children’s Commissioner warns
Delayed or incomplete information sharing between schools and local services is leaving colleges without the key insights they need to support young people effectively, limiting their ability to meet young people’s additional needs and prepare them for a life beyond education, the Children’s Commissioner has warned. Yet despite this inconsistent information sharing, a new report […]
Setting young people up for success – College sector report: The Children’s Commissioner’s School and College Census
In 2024, I used my data powers on schools and colleges for the first time, conducting a census to better understand the support that educational establishments offer children. This report is the third in this series. The first, The Children’s Plan, examines what whole system reform could and should look like. The second, The Children’s […]
Press Notice: ‘Over policing’ sees children in care being ten times more likely to receive a caution or conviction for minor offences
Society is systematically failing some of the most vulnerable children in the country, as children in care are treated disproportionately as criminals, new analysis from the Children’s Commissioner shows. Half of children in care (49%) who were ever given a caution or criminal conviction came into contact with the justice system only after they went […]
“Guilty until Proven Innocent”: Children’s Commissioner delivers 2025 Longford Lecture
The Longford Lectures, hosted by the Longford Trust since 2002, are held each November reflecting on prison policy and the need for broader social reform. Previous lectures have been given by well-known figures, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, President Mary McAleese of Ireland, and Cherie Blair. On Tuesday 11th November, the Children’s Commissioner delivered the 2025 […]
The Children’s Plan: Vision for Care
As Children’s Commissioner, I have a special responsibility to children living in care or away from home. That is not just a responsibility defined by legislation, but one that I feel personally. It was a big part of my motivation for taking on this role nearly five years ago, after a 30-year career as a […]
Why every child deserves access to nature, Cat Hickey
Cat Hickey is the Head of Conservation Education at ZSL (Zoological Society of London), which runs London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo, the ZSL Institute of Zoology and conservation projects around the world. Today Cat shares her views on the transformative power of outdoor learning and why every child deserves equal access to nature for their […]
The legacy of Covid on children and the task ahead
This week, as hearings for Module 8 of the Covid Inquiry begin, we are reminded once again of the profound and lasting impact the pandemic has had on children’s lives. The Inquiry provides an opportunity to reflect not only on what happened, but also on how we can rebuild: ensuring that the legacy of Covid […]
Youth Voices: Schools supporting children
You should be able to attend a brilliant school, close to home and friends, that supports your needs. You should feel engaged and enriched at school, with fun, meaningful experiences that allow you to thrive. You should be encouraged to achieve academically and developmentally, and you should be supported to excel and succeed with great […]
Press Notice: Landmark census reveals schools picking up the pieces as other services neglected
A blueprint for the “next great wave of education reform” will be unveiled today by the Children’s Commissioner, to transform children’s lives by redefining how schools and communities consider the full range of children’s needs. Dame Rachel de Souza’s report, The Children’s Plan: The Children’s Commissioner’s School Census, finds schools are doing a lot to […]
The Children’s Plan: The Children’s Commissioner’s School Census
Read The Children’s Plan: The Children’s Commissioner’s School Census in full. Read the Summary version. For the first time as Children’s Commissioner, I have used my statutory powers to ask all schools, and colleges, a set of questions. A census in response to what children told me they wanted and needed to attend, engage, attain, […]
Annual Report: 2024-2025
The Office of the Children’s Commissioner for England laid its annual report and accounts for the period April 2024 to March 2025 before Parliament on Tuesday 15th July. Here, the Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza introduces these accounts, a summary of project work, impact and financial activity for the financial year. This has been […]
Register, Regulate and Raise Standards: The Children’s Commissioner’s view on unregistered alternative provision
As Children’s Commissioner I strongly believe that every child has the right to an excellent education no matter who they are or where they live. Young people have also told me how important a good education is to them. Over the last four years I have heard from a million children through my surveys, The […]
Archived Content
What’s it like to be a child growing up with HIV?
There are 801 children living with HIV in the UK. The charity Children’s HIV association (CHIVA) works to ensure young people living with HIV have the knowledge, skills and support needed to live well and to achieve their greatest potential. To mark World AIDS Day on December 1st, we spoke to members of CHIVA’S youth committee about […]
Growing up North: Creating better outcomes for children and young people
Author: Cllr Judith Blake, Leeds City Council Our ambition is for Leeds to be the best city for children and young people to grow up in – a crucial element of Leeds City Council’s work to become the best city in the UK by 2030. Child Friendly Leeds is the thread that brings together all […]
Shining a light on the experiences of children excluded from schools and in alternative provision
My ‘Children’s Voices’ report looks at findings from an evidence review of the views, perspectives and experiences of children who have been or at risk of being excluded from school and children in alternative provision.
Letter from Anne Longfield to Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of NHS England
Over the last year, the issue most often raised with me has been children’s mental health, and it was the top of the list in my consultation with children about my priorities for this year.