Statement from the Children’s Commissioner on the expansion of free school meals
Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said: “No child should go hungry, or worry about where their next meal is coming from. This a hugely welcome move that will come as a relief to many struggling families and has the potential to improve children’s outcomes, school attendance and wellbeing.  “I will continue to urge […]
Press Notice: Children’s Commissioner calls for urgent action to tackle waiting times and inequality in mental health care for children
The Children’s Commissioner’s annual report on the state of children’s mental health services highlights huge inequalities when it comes to accessing support, with some young people waiting up to 17 times longer than others depending on where they live. In her fourth annual report, Dame Rachel de Souza sets out children’s experiences with mental health […]
Statement from the Children’s Commissioner on ‘Victims in their own right?’, a report by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales
Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said: “I welcome this report which echoes my own work in calling for children to be recognised not as witnesses to domestic abuse but as victims in their own right. Too often the voices of child victims are ignored or sidelined, but their experiences must be given the same […]
Celebrating International Women’s Day: views from my Young AmbassadorsÂ
The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is ‘Accelerate Action’. On this day of marking women and girls’ contributions to society, while also reflecting on the collective action still needed to create a more inclusive and equal world, I’ve asked some of my Young Ambassadors to share one thing they would change to make […]
The educational journeys of children in secure settings
Since becoming Children’s Commissioner nearly four years ago, I’ve made it my mission to listen to young people in some of the most challenging circumstances, facing the most uncertain futures.  Children living in secure settings are at the sharpest end of this definition. Their numbers are small, with around 400 at any one time located […]
Press Notice: Children in youth custody ‘failed before they arrive’, trapping them in a cycle of disadvantageÂ
A new report from the Children’s Commissioner has revealed children in prison have been failed by multiple services long before they arrive in custody, and their time in the justice system worsens their disadvantages and limits future opportunities. Dame Rachel de Souza’s report examines children’s experiences before and during their time in youth custody, identifying […]
Children’s involvement in the 2024 riots
Last July, the country was rocked by the murders of three little girls in Southport. Bebe King, Alice da Silva Aguiar and Elsie Dot Stancombe who were killed while taking part in a dance class during their summer holiday; a scene of simple childhood innocence destroyed by terrifying violence. The initial response from the community […]
Help at Hand care leavers training to professionals
Please note the training sessions described in this blog started in November 2024 and finished in February 2025. Help at Hand is the Children’s Commissioner’s advice and assistance service for children who are in care, leaving care, working with social services or living away from home. 2024 has been a big year for Help at […]
Back to school 2024 Â
This week is important to many children around the country, with the start of the new academic year. Whether a child is going to school for the first time, starting a new school, making the transition to secondary school from primary, or returning after the summer for another year, the first week back is an […]
The Big Ambition for the Election: My visionÂ
Over the last three years as Children’s Commissioner, I have heard from more than one million children. I have made it my mission to listen deeply to their views, voices and experiences and reflect these truthfully to policy makers and politicians. Too many of the children I speak to, but especially those whose voices are […]
Walk to School Week: what have children told us about walking to school?Â
It was clear from children’s responses to The Big Ambition that they want their walks to and from school to be clean, green, safe, and pleasant – but often, they are not. This week is Walk to School Week (May 20 to 24), which encourages children to travel actively to school each day, ideally by […]
New statistics show a huge increase in the number of children completely missing education
Almost 120,000 children of compulsory school age were recorded as missing education at some point in 2022/23 which is up by almost 25% from the year before, according to new statistics published today. The figures from the Department of Education also showed a surge in the number of children home educated in the same year. […]
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.