Children's Commissioner for England

My new School Census confirms what children told me: support must be local and accessible. School leaders agree - they’ve been plugging gaps left by years of cuts and under-resourcing of wider services. Govt must redefine ‘need’ in school #ChildrensPlan childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/resource/the-c…

🎙️In #TheBigConversation podcast, the Children's Commissioner & Youth Ambassadors, speak to Minister Gould. The Ambassadors share personal experiences with education, particularly around additional needs & discuss educational reforms needed. Listen now👇 childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/resource/nothi…

So good to sit down with the inspiring @Oreoduba to talk about how we open up hard conversations about what children see online, porn addiction as well as the critical importance of positive role models 💻💪

The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act is a vital step forward, reflecting what children have told me they need. But change will depend on how boldly it is delivered, so no child is left unseen, unsupported or falling through the gaps. childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/news-and-blogs…

Fantastic to meet with Lou Bezzina CEO of Brisbane Powerhouse to discuss children, the arts, upcoming Brisbane Olympics and great collaborations 🎭

.@Rachel_deSouza The Children's Wellbeing & Schools Act is a significant step in protecting children. It includes many measures I have been calling for. It must now be delivered at pace ambitiously & effectively for children who have been failed for too long. Full statement👇

Children should be safer after contact with the police - but too often, they're not. Almost 3,400 children have been strip searched in recent years, with Black children nearly 8x more likely to face this. Urgent changes are needed to keep children safe. childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/blog/the-stark…

Few issues have defined my tenure as Children’s Commissioner so sharply as the strip searching of children by police. Today, research from my fourth report, offers some reasons for optimism but there are still far too many strip searches happening.👇🏻childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/resource/polic…

Promising signs in my latest and 4th annual data collection from all police forces with strip searching of children down 50%. But worrying that outcomes for black children are worse and 30% have a history of being strip searched more than once! Time to finally update the PACE codes - it is taking too long 👇🏻 theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/a…

The Representation of the People Bill is going through @UKParliament. Here's my contribution to this debate, shaped by what children tell me. Children who get the right to vote need to be confident using it - others must still have their voices heard: childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/resource/repre…

This will bring important clarity for Heads not yet protecting children by banning phones from classrooms. The majority do, yet still cited online safety as a top concern in my School Census - so we must keep focused on safety outside the school gates👇🏻 news.sky.com/story/phone-ba…

No child should be without basic facilities or sharing bathrooms with strangers. New data published at my request reveals thousands are in unsafe, unsuitable shared housing for well over 6 weeks. The loophole allowing this must be closed 👇🏻 insidehousing.co.uk/comment/childr…

Important conversation today with @lauracastelfort, Rapporteur on Violent Pornography @PACE_News, on keeping children safe online. Vital to be discussing the shared challenges of childhood, no matter where in the world children are growing up, and opportunities for joint action

Brilliant afternoon spent at @Nationaltheatre with Executive Director Kate Varah today discussing how we open up the world of theatre for young people and the incredible power of the arts to enrich children’s lives 🌟🎭

"Time and time again we see the real life consequences of services and professionals failing to take responsibility for the most complex groups of children." - @Rachel_deSouza responds to findings from the Southport inquiry's first phase: childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/news-and-blogs…

As we approach the end of the Easter holidays, I'm thinking about the children who find it hard to attend school - and those at risk of going missing completely. Data shows severe absence remains high - with the most vulnerable children often left behind. childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/news-and-blogs…

Children in care tell me they share the same hopes & dreams as their peers - but their opportunities are rarely the same. I asked some of my care-experienced Youth Ambassadors about the changes they want from decision-makers to level the playing field: childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/news-and-blogs…

We all have a role keeping children safe online. Tech companies can't treat safety as an afterthought. I'm backing @ICONews campaign to give parents more confidence to talk about the risks of being online, so children understand how to respond 👇🏻 lbc.co.uk/article/online…

Hundreds of children with complex medical needs are waiting in hospital for specialist support. For those in care, this can take years, leaving them deeply isolated. We need coordinated, compassionate services with funding to match 👇🏻 childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/news-and-blogs…

Children in care tell me their voices are often sidelined – yet we see failures in services cause catastrophic harm in their lives. My plan for 2026-27 doubles down on the need for change, with a focus on detained children & those seeking asylum: childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/resource/busin…

Alice’s case is a stark example of failure in children’s social care – the kind I’ve warned about through my research into illegal homes. She needed love - but received cruelty. This illegal practice must end to protect other children like Alice: childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/news-and-blogs…