Homepage | Children's Commissioner for England
Source: http://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk
Archived: 2026-04-23 14:52
Homepage | Children's Commissioner for England
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Giving all children
a voice
As Children’s Commissioner, my work is driven by what children tell me is most important to them.
My latest work
Dame Rachel de Souza
Children’s Commissioner
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.
Business Plan 2026-27
Children value their family, their community, their health and wellbeing, their education, their future jobs and making a better world.
Here’s my plan for the next year
The Children’s Plan
I launched the biggest ever survey of schools and colleges in England,
The Children’s Commissioner’s School Census
, to capture up-to-date information about children’s experiences of school – to drive improvements in how they receive support.
R
ead the findings and recommendations
Youth Voices Hub
My Youth Voices hub shares young people’s voices on topics that matter to them and provides opportunities for young people to have their say.
Visit my Youth Voices Hub
My priority areas
Better world
Community
Children's social care
School
Family
Jobs and skills
Health
Latest Reports
Police powers and children – strip searching and use of force
22 April 2026
Few issues have defined my tenure as Children’s Commissioner so sharply as the strip searching of children by police. As a former teacher and headteacher of 30 years, I thought I was hardened to the vast spectrum of failures in children’s rights, but the case of Child Q in Hackney five years ago shocked me […]
Report
Children growing up in B&Bs – new data shows the full story
16 April 2026
Tens of thousands of children are spending long chunks of their childhoods in unsuitable shared accommodation – sharing bathrooms with strangers, often in unpleasant conditions and cramped together in one small space without privacy. Since my research into the experiences of children living in poverty last summer, I have been pushing for an end to […]
Report
My Plan for the year, 2026-27
31 March 2026
I’ve designed a version of my Business Plan aimed specifically for children and young people, sharing the projects and themes that my office will be working on. As Children’s Commissioner for England, it is my job to listen to you and take your voices to decision makers. This will be my sixth and final year […]
Report
Business Plan, 2026-27
2026–27 will be my final year as Children’s Commissioner, marking the conclusion of a six-year term that began in March 2021. It is a moment to take stock of how children’s lives have changed during that time, and to focus on the work that still needs to be done to give every child in England […]
Report
Children waiting to leave hospital
23 March 2026
Recently I visited a children’s hospital where I came across a little girl. She was tiny but said hello confidently. I asked who she was – and was told that she lived at the hospital. She was not too sick to leave, but her parents were unable – or unwilling – to take her home, […]
Report
Setting young people up for success – College sector report: The Children’s Commissioner’s School and College Census
6 March 2026
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 […]
Report
A healthy influence? Children’s exposure to appearance-changing products online
10 February 2026
For the past five years as Children’s Commissioner I have been speaking to children about the online world and its influence on childhood. It became clear to me very early on in the role that children today do not distinguish between ‘being online’ and ‘being offline’ in the way that adults do, or even in […]
Report
Children living in illegal children’s homes
11 January 2026
Last year, for the first time, I shone a light on children placed in illegal homes – isolated, left without appropriate care, and often at increased risk of harm. These so-called ‘homes’ include caravans, holiday rentals, or AirBnBs, usually under the ownership of private companies with no formal inspection or scrutiny. That first report showed […]
Report
Help at Hand annual report 2024-2025
29 December 2025
“I love to learn and be around other children every day. I miss my old friends, which makes me feel sad. I have been looking forward to making new ones, so I don’t feel lonely.” These are the words of an 11-year-old boy, ‘Jack’, who contacted my advice and support service, Help at Hand. Jack, […]
Report
Latest News
The stark reality about children facing strip searches
23 April 2026
News and blogs
Press Notice: Falling strip searches ‘masking’ ongoing safeguarding failures, as almost a third of children searched have been repeatedly searched and ethnic disparities persist
22 April 2026
News and blogs
Children growing up in B&Bs – new data shows the full story
16 April 2026
News and blogs
Statement in response to Southport inquiry’s key findings
13 April 2026
Statement
Why school attendance must be a priority for every service and professional working with children
9 April 2026
News and blogs
What should the government do to give care experienced young people the best possible future?
7 April 2026
News and blogs
Children in care with complex medical needs are stuck in hospital
6 April 2026
News and blogs
Alice’s story: The cost of illegal children’s homes
2 April 2026
News and blogs
Statement from the Children’s Commissioner on new screen time guidance for parents of under-5s
27 March 2026
Statement
Business plan 2026-27
These are the things children value in our society: their family, their community, their health and wellbeing, their education, their future jobs and skills, and making a better world
Business Plan, 2026-27
Learn about this service
An advice and assistance service for children in care, children living away from home, children with a social worker, and care leavers
Learn about this service
Be inspired
A voice for teenagers in care and care leavers, a place to share your stories, experiences and achievements and find useful life hacks
Be inspired
Skip to content
Giving all children
a voice
As Children’s Commissioner, my work is driven by what children tell me is most important to them.
My latest work
Dame Rachel de Souza
Children’s Commissioner
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.
Business Plan 2026-27
Children value their family, their community, their health and wellbeing, their education, their future jobs and making a better world.
Here’s my plan for the next year
The Children’s Plan
I launched the biggest ever survey of schools and colleges in England,
The Children’s Commissioner’s School Census
, to capture up-to-date information about children’s experiences of school – to drive improvements in how they receive support.
R
ead the findings and recommendations
Youth Voices Hub
My Youth Voices hub shares young people’s voices on topics that matter to them and provides opportunities for young people to have their say.
Visit my Youth Voices Hub
My priority areas
Better world
Community
Children's social care
School
Family
Jobs and skills
Health
Latest Reports
Police powers and children – strip searching and use of force
22 April 2026
Few issues have defined my tenure as Children’s Commissioner so sharply as the strip searching of children by police. As a former teacher and headteacher of 30 years, I thought I was hardened to the vast spectrum of failures in children’s rights, but the case of Child Q in Hackney five years ago shocked me […]
Report
Children growing up in B&Bs – new data shows the full story
16 April 2026
Tens of thousands of children are spending long chunks of their childhoods in unsuitable shared accommodation – sharing bathrooms with strangers, often in unpleasant conditions and cramped together in one small space without privacy. Since my research into the experiences of children living in poverty last summer, I have been pushing for an end to […]
Report
My Plan for the year, 2026-27
31 March 2026
I’ve designed a version of my Business Plan aimed specifically for children and young people, sharing the projects and themes that my office will be working on. As Children’s Commissioner for England, it is my job to listen to you and take your voices to decision makers. This will be my sixth and final year […]
Report
Business Plan, 2026-27
2026–27 will be my final year as Children’s Commissioner, marking the conclusion of a six-year term that began in March 2021. It is a moment to take stock of how children’s lives have changed during that time, and to focus on the work that still needs to be done to give every child in England […]
Report
Children waiting to leave hospital
23 March 2026
Recently I visited a children’s hospital where I came across a little girl. She was tiny but said hello confidently. I asked who she was – and was told that she lived at the hospital. She was not too sick to leave, but her parents were unable – or unwilling – to take her home, […]
Report
Setting young people up for success – College sector report: The Children’s Commissioner’s School and College Census
6 March 2026
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 […]
Report
A healthy influence? Children’s exposure to appearance-changing products online
10 February 2026
For the past five years as Children’s Commissioner I have been speaking to children about the online world and its influence on childhood. It became clear to me very early on in the role that children today do not distinguish between ‘being online’ and ‘being offline’ in the way that adults do, or even in […]
Report
Children living in illegal children’s homes
11 January 2026
Last year, for the first time, I shone a light on children placed in illegal homes – isolated, left without appropriate care, and often at increased risk of harm. These so-called ‘homes’ include caravans, holiday rentals, or AirBnBs, usually under the ownership of private companies with no formal inspection or scrutiny. That first report showed […]
Report
Help at Hand annual report 2024-2025
29 December 2025
“I love to learn and be around other children every day. I miss my old friends, which makes me feel sad. I have been looking forward to making new ones, so I don’t feel lonely.” These are the words of an 11-year-old boy, ‘Jack’, who contacted my advice and support service, Help at Hand. Jack, […]
Report
Latest News
The stark reality about children facing strip searches
23 April 2026
News and blogs
Press Notice: Falling strip searches ‘masking’ ongoing safeguarding failures, as almost a third of children searched have been repeatedly searched and ethnic disparities persist
22 April 2026
News and blogs
Children growing up in B&Bs – new data shows the full story
16 April 2026
News and blogs
Statement in response to Southport inquiry’s key findings
13 April 2026
Statement
Why school attendance must be a priority for every service and professional working with children
9 April 2026
News and blogs
What should the government do to give care experienced young people the best possible future?
7 April 2026
News and blogs
Children in care with complex medical needs are stuck in hospital
6 April 2026
News and blogs
Alice’s story: The cost of illegal children’s homes
2 April 2026
News and blogs
Statement from the Children’s Commissioner on new screen time guidance for parents of under-5s
27 March 2026
Statement
Business plan 2026-27
These are the things children value in our society: their family, their community, their health and wellbeing, their education, their future jobs and skills, and making a better world
Business Plan, 2026-27
Learn about this service
An advice and assistance service for children in care, children living away from home, children with a social worker, and care leavers
Learn about this service
Be inspired
A voice for teenagers in care and care leavers, a place to share your stories, experiences and achievements and find useful life hacks
Be inspired