The importance of attendance
As the final few days of summer come to a close, it’s time to get ready for the return to school. I know that so much work goes in to make the first week a success. Teachers are completing inset days, parents are buying pencil cases, and children up and down the country are rushing […]
New evidence on pornography’s influence on harmful sexual behaviour among childrenÂ
New report by Children’s Commissioner for England identifies links between children’s experiences of pornography and subsequent harmful sexual behaviour or abuse 9th May 2023: Testimonies from young people exploring the links between watching violent pornography and experiencing harmful sexual behaviours are highlighted in a new report published today by the Children’s Commissioner for England. The […]
Press release
Letter to the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR)
Dear Joanna Cherry KC MP, RE: Follow-up from the oral evidence session on 18 January Thank you for your letter and for inviting me to give evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR). I also want to say thank you to the wider committee members for maintaining a consistent focus on ensuring that […]
Family
Family is a core pillar of my work, following the results of The Big Ask. Children told me that having a supportive family has a positive impact on their lives. They care about their families and they value seeing them, with 80% of 9-17-year-olds saying they are happy or okay with their family life, along […]
Children’s Social Care
In The Big Ask, children in care and those receiving support from children’s social care told me they share the same hopes and dreams as their peers. Some told me how grateful they were for the care they received from foster carers, social workers, adoptive parents and other professionals.  But many also told me about some […]
CCo statement on government strategy for the implementation of the Care Review
Every child in care, or involved with children’s services, deserves safety, love and security. Today the Government sets out its implementation strategy for the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care. This strategy rightly acknowledges that things are currently not good enough for vulnerable children, with too many missing out on the right help. As a […]
Statement
It’s important to listen to children this year
Almost 20 years ago, in 2004, the Children Act 2004 set out the Children’s Commissioner’s primary function: to promote and protect the rights of children in England, including promoting awareness of their views and interests. Since starting my post as Children’s Commissioner in March 2021 I have put children’s voices at the heart of everything […]
Online Communities: Annual roundup
2022 has been a monumental year for children’s safety online. The Government’s landmark Online Safety Bill was re-drafted following Committee scrutiny; the Bill has recently returned to the House to complete its final stages in the Commons and the Lords. This year, the Children’s Commissioner has tirelessly championed young voices on online safety to Ministers, […]
School: Annual roundup
I started this year setting out a bold plan for what England’s education system should be delivering for children. The Big Ask survey, the largest ever of children with over 550,000 responses demonstrated the extent of the aspirations held by this generation. So this year I have worked to imagine an education system which can […]
Welcome back – attendance and the importance of the first week of term
Welcome back! I hope you had a relaxing and well-deserved rest. As you prepare for the new term, I want to emphasise the importance of getting all children in school and ready to learn, every day. In The Big Ask, the largest survey ever of children in England, children told me that getting a good […]
Annual report 2021-22
Introduction by Dame Rachel de Souza, Children’s Commissioner for England This is my second Annual Report as Children’s Commissioner. This reports on my first full year in office. I am proud and delighted to have taken on this role at such a critical time for our nation’s children. As the tidal wave of the Covid-19 […]
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 […]
Archived Content
Nurture with nature: Why environmental engagement is imperative for children
We know that the health of the environment is one of children’s greatest concerns, as outlined in Issue 1 of our Children’s Insights reports. The word ‘environment’ is likely to stir a very different reaction amongst children than it used to. Many children face the incompatible situation of a lifestyle divorced from nature, and mounting […]
Anne Longfield’s response to the CQC report into the provision of children’s mental health services
Today’s report from the Care Quality Commission into child and adolescent mental health services provision makes for sad reading. The CQC, commissioned by the Government to review child mental health services, has found that whilst most specialist services provide good quality care, too many young people find it difficult to access services.
Why I’m asking urgent questions about the state of mental health provision for children.
Over the past week my office has been helping two carers desperate to secure mental health accommodation for children for whom they are responsible.
Being ambitious for children’s mental health
Poor mental health is not inevitable, and all young people deserve the chance to live happy and healthy lives. But at the moment many who are struggling and are actively seeking help are being let down.
Children with mental health problems need help to recover and thrive
Today’s World Mental Health Day reminds us how real a problem this is for so many children and challenges us reach out and support their needs.
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 […]
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
Anne Longfield presents her vision for a better care system
 On Tuesday, 24 November the Children’s Commissioner, Anne Longfield OBE, presented a speech online where she reflected on what she has learnt from children and young people in the 6 years she has been Commissioner, and how they have felt about the care and support they have received. Drawing on new research conducted by […]
Thousands of children in care being ‘failed by the state’ because of a broken residential care home market
Anne Longfield, Children’s Commissioner for England, has published a set of reports showing how the children’s residential social care system is broken and is failing many of the most vulnerable children, in particular those who are most at risk of falling through gaps in the system and becoming victims of criminal or sexual exploitation. Today’s reports […]
How lockdown affected children’s stress and anxiety
Children’s lives changed beyond recognition when full lockdown began on 23rd March. With schools shut to the majority of pupils, the regular rhythms of childhood and adolescence – from school runs and playtime, to exams, celebrations and graduation – were put on indefinite hold. Anecdotally, we know that many children struggled with the demands of […]
