As Children’s Commissioner it is my duty to promote and protect the rights of all children, with particular regard to children who are living away from home or receiving social care services. My priority is to listen to children across the country, to hear about their lives and champion their voices.
Our priority areas
School Survey
The biggest ever survey of schools and colleges in England is underway, to capture up-to-date information about children’s experiences of school – to drive improvements in how they receive support. It will be open until December 20, 2024.
The Big Ambition
We launched the Big Ambition to hear from children in the lead up to the next General Election on their lives, and what they want from the government to improve them. Findings from the survey were published and launched in Parliament in March 2024, adding to the work of the office over the past three years to bring the voices and experiences of a million children to politicians.
Family Review
The Family Review seeks to understand what family means to people, how services support families, and what can be done to improve services.
The Big Ask
Over half a million children responded to The Big Ask, the largest ever survey of children. The Big Answer report shares their responses and our answer.
Latest Reports
Children with complex needs who are deprived of liberty: Interviews with children to understand their experiences of being deprived of their liberty
Thousands of children in the United Kingdom are currently deprived of their liberty. They are confined in young offender institutions, mental health wards, or secure children’s homes, but a growing proportion are being deprived of their liberty outside a secure setting, through the use of High Court deprivation of liberty orders. These orders, which are […]
What is this plan for? The purpose and content of children in need plans
There is a group of just over 400,000 children living in England who are defined as ’children in need’, because they have been identified as needing meaningful intervention from the state to support their development, prevent problems in their home lives from escalating or to help if they are disabled. Around a quarter of these […]
Supporting care experienced students: A handbook for professionals working in higher education
As Children’s Commissioner, I have had the privilege to hear from many brilliant and inspiring care experienced young people about their lives now and hopes for the future. Care experienced young people are rightly ambitious for their futures and have told me what support they need to help them meet their own goals. To help […]
“I’ve seen horrible things”: Children’s experiences of the online world
The online world has evolved significantly since I started as Children’s Commissioner in 2021. A technological revolution followed the COVID-19 pandemic – featuring the launch of new Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools into the public realm and the increasing presence of social media platforms in the lives of children. As we mark the first anniversary of […]
Waiting times for assessment and support for autism, ADHD and other neurodevelopmental conditions
In 2024, we would never imagine that children in this country are being told they cannot access their education because there is no suitable school for them. We would not expect that some children are non-verbal and wearing nappies well into the primary school years, because they haven’t been able to get the help they […]
Children Missing Education: The Unrolled Story
Every child has a fundamental right to an education, yet more than 100,000 children each year are being denied this basic right. These children, many of whom have slipped through the cracks of our education system, are not just numbers—they are young lives at risk of being forgotten. I am deeply concerned about this situation, […]
Strip searching of children in England and Wales: First complete dataset for 2018–2023, including new data July 2022-June 2023
In light of the shocking case of Child Q, a 15-year-old Black girl who was strip searched while at school in Hackney nearly four years ago, I wanted to use my statutory powers as Children’s Commissioner to investigate the practice of strip searching children by the police. Child Q’s case was so extreme that I […]
Children’s experiences as victims of crime
As Children’s Commissioner, I advocate for all children in England. However, my role was born out of the acute need to hear the voices of the most at risk children. Child victims of crime are among the most vulnerable – too often excluded from a justice process designed with adults in mind, and overlooked when […]
An Alternative Route: Post-16 support for young people attending Alternative Provision
As Children’s Commissioner, I have visited hundreds of children from across the country and spoken to them about their hopes, dreams, and aspirations. While many children talk to me about how to improve childhood, they also talk about their visions for the future. Through these conversations, I have seen the sheer scale of ambition this […]
Latest News
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How the School Survey will help shape the future of education22 November 2024News and blogs -
Confederation of Schools Trust Annual Conference: Reflections from youth Ambassadors20 November 2024News and blogs -
Press Notice: New research reveals ‘stark failures’ of social care system, as the Children’s Commissioner calls for urgent reform and stronger safeguards18 November 2024Statement
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Children’s views on mathematics15 November 2024News and blogs -
The Big Conversation: Dame Melanie Dawes, Ofcom Chief Executive13 November 2024News and blogs -
The Children’s Commissioner shares activities for Maths Week England 202412 November 2024News and blogs -
What are children in need plans for?7 November 2024Blogs -
Why safety and care must come before force in youth justice5 November 2024News and blogs -
What is this plan for? The purpose and content of children in need plans4 November 2024News
