Dame Rachel de Souza
@Rachel_deSouza
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Children’s Commissioner for England @ChildrensComm , Educationalist and social reformer, personal account
London, England
Joined December 2010
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Pinned Tweet
Here’s my first message as I begin my term as Children’s Commissioner for England and ‘there isn’t a moment to lose’
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1/4 My duty as
@ChildrensComm
is to make sure any child, no matter where they come from, receives the right support & protection. As such, I’m deeply concerned about the measures in the Bill. It is opaque on what it means for children, their rights & experiences.
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Parents have right to know what’s taught about sex. I strongly agree with
@thetimes
on this - here are the recommendations I made to
@educationgovuk
on RSHE materials
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Fantastic to see Tony Hudgell, aged just 9 receive such a well deserved honour from the King. Huge congratulations to him for his amazing charity & work to prevent any other child experiencing abuse like he did.
🏅🏅🙌🙌⬇️⬇️
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‘No ifs or buts’ we must prioritise children and get them all back to school at the start of the new term & school year. Spot on from David Blunkett
@Telegraph
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I'm determined to find the lost children who haven't returned to school/never been in the system. Grateful to all the LAs, School Trusts, safeguarding partnerships &
@educationgovuk
for their help. I'm meeting LAs today & written to ALL of them. Will not stop until this is sorted
🔴 Thousands of children have “fallen off the radar”, a government tsar has warned as she launches an inquiry to track down youngsters who are not in the classroom
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The Children’s Commissioners of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have written to the PM today calling for safe passage of refugee children from Ukraine to the UK.
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We need to put children at the heart of recovery from the pandemic by ensuring they’re back at school/in quality education. We need to listen to them to understand the barriers they face & ensure we do what’s needed to support them.
Children’s commissioner
@Rachel_deSouza
today on *the big* issue of 100,000 off the education radar since pandemic onset— thank you
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More than a quarter of secondary pupils ‘persistently absent’ these figures lay bare the scale of the school attendance crisis. 3 yrs on from the pandemic, school absences remain at unprecedented highs. We are failing to get children back to school. 1/2
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Heartbreaking to read this and a most dreadful loss. Thoughts and prayers with Ruth Perry's family, colleagues, pupils and families. Our headteachers are a national treasure - educating the next generation. We must listen to them and support them.
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Please read this piece. It is what I see as I visit schools & services for children around the country. Thank goodness for dedicated tenacious leaders like Mr Potts. Education & the services supporting children need to be a top national & Gov priority
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4/4 I am seeking urgent clarity from the Home Office on the specific provisions in the Bill and what they will mean for children, whose rights as set out in the UNCRC must have absolute primacy.
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We asked children to make a huge sacrifice to help control the virus and now we need to give them something back with much needed support for their education and well being. Time to put children at the heart of our decision making as we come out of lockdown.
More than 200,000 pupils will move from primary school to secondary school this autumn without being able to read properly, according to unpublished government figures.
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‘Children are the least likely to be affected by the virus but they have taken the worst hit’ - that’s why I’m launching
#TheBigAsk
survey on Monday
@ChildrensComm
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The Illegal Migration bill means more children in boats not fewer & I have been given no clarity on the safeguarding processes to prevent more children being lost or exploited. We’re running out of time to protect children. My piece
@thetimes
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3/4 These children should have looked after status and be in the care of local authorities from the moment they arrive, with access to legal aid, advocacy, education and care.
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Police strip-searching children as young as eight. The shocking findings in my report - released tomorrow - must now lead to change.
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Wonderful to welcome new SoS Education
@nadhimzahawi
- his first words to us were about his absolute commitment to looked after children and to deliver for vulnerable children 👏👏👏
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2/4 I’m extremely worried about the impact it will have on vulnerable asylum-seeking children, many of whom my team & I have visited. Visits are one part of my advocacy offer, Help at Hand we also offer practical support to ensure children’s rights are upheld & their voices heard
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Children need to be prioritised as a matter of urgency. They've been badly affected by lockdown & in the many places I've been to around the country to speak with children they have identified their their mental health & well being as the major barrier to thriving now.
“These are children who are so unwell they cannot go home” report on our survey of the increased numbers of mental health admissions to children’s wards during the pandemic
@RCPCHtweets
#MentalHealthMatters
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I remain profoundly concerned at the lack of clarity around what the Illegal Migration Bill will mean for children: those who arrive in the UK seeking safety and refuge from persecution. 1/4
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Up early for
#TheBigAsk
launch day. We’re looking forward to hearing from children across the country about their hopes and dreams for the future. Thankyou to
@MarcusRashford
MBE for great support. Let’s get children’s voices heard
@ChildrensComm
Children’s Commissioner launches biggest ever consultation with children in England as part of Beveridge-style report into post-Covid childhood: Dame
@Rachel_deSouza
and
@MarcusRashford
MBE call on children and young people to take part in ‘The Big Ask’ …
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Children have told me in huge numbers about how much they are concerned about their physical and mental health. They want to get outside, take part in activities at school and in their communities and enjoy sport, drama and simply play out and have fun.
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Very good news that government has today committed to a national home school register. Ensuring every child is in school/ receiving high quality education and are safe and supported is critically important and this is a major and necessary step.
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A fifth of children aged three and four have their own mobile phones! I strongly advise parents that young children should not have internet-enabled phones not least because of the risk of them accessing harmful content.
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My report on ‘Children’s Mental Health Services’ today shows that access to NHS mental health for children remains a ‘postcode lottery’. Welcome improvements in some areas need rocket boosting across the country - children need support
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Good to meet
@article_39
and care leavers in Parliament after they had presented their petition on caring to 18 to No10. We need to care for children in care to 18 and beyond as we all do for our own children.
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Children have identified their mental health/ well being as their biggest barrier in The Big Ask survey - 'school leaders see the emphasis on academic tutoring as the main catch-up strategy as “unhelpful” and they want an equal focus on emotional recovery and enrichment.'
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Powerful challenge from
@soniasodha
& as I see 1st hand the effect of this crisis on children & YP’s lives it often feels like answers simply haven’t been good enough. I’ve started our childhood commission seeking the views of every child
#BigAsk
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On world mental health day I’m calling for tech companies to show some 'moral purpose' and do more to keep our children and especially teenage girls safe and well online in
@Telegraph
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Attendance needs to be top priority - the latest figures are worryingly low & mustn’t be allowed to slip further. Absence was just 4.7% across the board in 2018/9 now it’s 7.4% with special schools at a very high 12.7% absence. That’s a lot of children missing their education
Attendance dropped across all regions last week at both primary and secondary level. Nationally primary attendance fell by 0.4% pts to 94.4% and secondary fell by 0.2% pts to 92.1%... 📉
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A big welcome back to the new term to all the HTs, teachers & colleagues who work in schools. Over half a million children told me last May how highly they value their teachers, education & school. Thank you for all you do for children, especially in these difficult times.
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We owe it to Arthur Labinjo-Hughes not to be afraid to ask difficult questions & we need decisive action so that children’s voices are heard.
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I feel strongly that the Illegal Migration Bill does a disservice to the UK's proud history of compassion to children, with profound areas of uncertainty & little time for proper scrutiny. My words to
@thetimes
:
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Great to meet with
@nadhimzahawi
this morning on my 1st anniversary of taking up role as
@ChildrensComm
Still thrilled we’ve been able to listen to over half a million of England’s children in
#TheBigAsk
& start putting what they want into action. Still lots to do
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Today we mourn the loss of Queen Elizabeth II. An incredible life of service & grace.This will be a sad moment for the children of England as it is for all of us. She was Queen for generations of children. The Royal Family are in my thoughts & prayers tonight. God save the King.
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Agree that our children can leave this pandemic with the knowledge they were able to weather the trickiest of storms & that should give them great confidence for the future. Time to get behind them. ‘Enough of the ‘lost generation’.
@PeterHyman21
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A big thank you to the many head teachers, teachers & school staff who break for Christmas today - you have been amazing in your support for children this term & thank you to all running HAF (holiday and food) programmes and helping children & families over the holiday too 💫
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🧵This week is key for
#IllegalMigrationBill
as it goes back to the
@HouseofCommons
I remain deeply concerned about the devastating impact it will have on children - with serious consequences for the most vulnerable - who arrive in the UK, If it’s not amended. 1/7
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Everyone was a child once, it’s up to all of us to make sure those years are the best we can make them and why I’m so determined to do just that as Children’s Commissioner
#WorldChildrensDay
@ChildrensComm
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Children in care deserve loving, stable homes that give them appropriate care and support – just like any other child. Decisions about where they live should always be based on what’s in their best interests. 1/3
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A huge welcome back to the new school year to all teachers, colleagues & children starting back today & over the next few days. School is of singular importance to children - they have told us so in
#TheBigAsk
. I wish everyone well for a new year full of hope, learning & joy
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1st Christmas for 31 years without my amazing Mother in Law. We’re all getting together ‘even when I’m gone!’. Think I’ll need a few practice run thru’s of the family signature Parsi & Goan Xmas dishes (to accompany the turkey) this weekend so the nieces & nephews don’t complain
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A privilege to meet nurses, consultants, parents and babies
@Bham_Childrens
- This Childrens hospital is a national treasure - so impressed by all I saw & the commitment to all Birmingham’s children and families. Thank you for having me
@BWCHBoss
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Delighted that
@russellviner
@TimCoulsonUSP
@NPorter83
@jonpayates
@michael_merrick
@edvainker
are to join the
@ChildrensComm
Advisory Board. I couldn’t ask for better challenge and support for me and for the team as we launch
#TheBigAsk
survey results.
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We have such wonderful children - it’s been an honour to hear from them through the
#BigAsk
survey & visits. They’ve sacrificed a lot during lockdown. Now it’s time to redouble our efforts, put them 1st, listen to them & meet their needs so they can thrive
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Very good to see this family of schools continued vision for extended provision & enrichment combined with superb timetabling skills (he learnt from the best) to deliver for children - arts, sports, electives & so much more learning 👏👏👏
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Happy New Year 2024. Let this be the year that support for children & families is at the heart of every national plan & manifesto. Because nothing is bigger than the lives of children my
#BigAmbition
2024 is to make this country the very best place for all our children to grow up
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I’m publishing new nationally representative research today showing the extent of harmful material (inc pro suicide, extreme dieting, self harm, & violence ) children are bombarded with on social media - where they see it & their parents actions & worries
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My message welcoming the return of children to school after lockdown. Let’s listen to children now to hear what they learnt from their experiences during the pandemic and hold on to that for the future | Children's Commissioner for England
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This was appalling and unacceptable and must never be allowed to happen again and I am writing to the MET commissioner to ensure just that. Sorry needs to mean it won't happen again.
A black 15-year-old, menstruating girl was strip-searched at her school by the Met Police.
Tom Swarbrick asks the Children's Commissioner for England: How does this happen?
@TomSwarbrick1
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Good luck to all students collecting A levels & results today. You've had to overcome huge challenges & it's been a privilege to talk with & hear from so many of you - you are fantastic! Proud of all & thank you to your teachers,schools, parents,carers & all who supported you
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The Duke of Edinburgh's Award stands out as a truly significant and lasting legacy of HRH Prince Philip. It has changed children & young people's lives for the better across our nation (around 300,000 participate in the UK & 1mill internationally). A great legacy of a great man.
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Great to chat to
@AndyBurnhamGM
yesterday about the good work Manchester is doing including on data sharing between services that is seeing real results - and good to be heading to Manchester today to speak with colleagues at the
#NCASC22
conference.
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Attendance needs to be everyone’s business - it’s not just an abstract metric - we must do everything we can at national, local & school level - to make sure children are in school every day - for their future but also for their well being and safety
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Wishing all teachers and school leaders a very well deserved summer break and huge thanks for your exceptional service and all you have done this year for children. (also thoughts with my old team
@inspirationeast
). See everyone the other side 💫👏👏👏
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This post covid fall in standards at age 11 is devastating & we need government focus & a bold plan to improve educational standards for all children again.
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Children have overwhelmingly identified mental health as their major concern as they come out of lockdown. We’ll share more as soon as we have completed our analysis of over half a million responses. We must not underestimate the need to support them.
🗣️Dame Rachel De Souza, Children's Commissioner for England, said a survey of more than 550,000 children - the largest such poll in history - will show mental health to be the greatest concern of this generation of children
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Today I’m sharing my report to Government on how we can keep children safe online - I’ve been deeply shocked by the scale of harm to children & my hope is that action now will make it safer for them to enjoy the fantastic opportunities of the online world
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Wishing everyone a wonderful Easter/ long weekend break - it’s my one month anniversary as
@childrenscomm
- so huge thanks to my new team and our wider colleagues and partners - for all your support getting me so well settled in - and helping us get the
#BigAsk
launched
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My team & I speak with & visit ‘children seeking asylum’ in the hotels regularly. Some separated from parents & don’t know where they are, some there for months & desperate to learn English. There needs to be a better, safer solution for these children that respects their rights.
🔺 EXCLUSIVE: The controversial practice of housing migrants in hotels will continue for the foreseeable future as the Home Office plans to change the law to allow it to act as a legal parent for orphaned child refugees
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Happy New Year to all 🥂 and thank you to the amazing children of England who told me what they need now to thrive & their hopes & dreams for their lives in
#TheBigAsk
this year. Let’s keep them safe and support them so they can create the better world they dream of
#2022
🎉
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Embedding social workers in schools like this is an excellent idea, support where its needed and joined up services - very keen to see the evaluation via
@lechris_t
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In Kent today to visit the unaccompanied children who have arrived in small boats and are in the hotels and to check on the situation for children in the Kent intake centre where they arrive from the channel crossings.
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A huge welcome back to all colleagues in schools starting the new term. Having had COVID this Easter I’m even more mindful of how tough this year has been for schools. Over 500,000 children have told me how much they value their teachers & education. Thank you for all you do.
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Heartbreaking to read about Arthur’s death. Nothing is more valuable than the life of a child. Lessons must be learnt to prevent this happening again.
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I want every child to be in school every day, because it’s the best place for their educational outcomes & their wellbeing. I’m pleased to see the steps announced today by
@educationgovuk
which aim to intervene more quickly & earlier where there is poor attendance. 1/3
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We
@childrenscomm
team are looking forward to attending the
#ShapingUs
Symposium today - nothing more important than ensuring all our children can thrive.
The stage is set for what is gearing up to be an excellent day. We will be focusing on the most important social and emotional skills people need to thrive in the modern world - that are laid in early childhood but continue to grow for a lifetime!
#ShapingUs
Symposium
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Good first meeting with new HMCI
@martyneoliver
discussing how we will work together to ensure all children - with a special emphasis on those who are vulnerable or from disadvantaged backgrounds - are at the heart of everything we do.
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Heading to Leeds to visit Leeds City Council and their services for children and young people and families in the morning. I’ve heard great things about their work & just read their impressive last
@Ofstednews
outstanding report. Look fwd to the visit - it’s a great city.
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After all they've sacrificed this generation deserves to be heard & helped & some children paid a terrible price, in cases that have shocked us all. The experiences of children & the effects on children’s social care should be included in the inquiry:
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Children’s well being must be at the heart of the return to school tomorrow. Access to a counsellor for any child who needs one and children’s mental health services a priority. | The Sunday Times
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Fantastic late night prom with
@annalapwood
on the organ celebrating the Moon and stars with pieces from
@HansZimmer
, Debussy and more
@bbcproms
- the Albert Hall lit up like the night sky ⭐️ 🌙 💫
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Very good to meet with
@theresa_may
to discuss our concerns with the Illegal Migration Bill and what it will mean for vulnerable children. So pleased to see her continued leadership on modern slavery issues.
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So pleased to see this new law I supported as
@ChildrensComm
raising the marriage age to 18 in Well done
@Pauline_Latham
for championing this. My thoughts with the girls & boys I’ve taught who were forced/ persuaded into marriage too young
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This week, the Independent Inquiry on Child Sexual Abuse will publish its final recommendations after running 15 investigations over seven years into institutional abuse. It is a huge opportunity to change the way we do things. - Essential read from
@soniasodha
Adults adopt myths about child sexual abuse to make ourselves more comfortable. It’s children who pay the price.
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Big opportunity for 16/17 year olds to work alongside me with government and parliament to put children & YP’s views front and centre as the country heads towards the next election. Please share
👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
I am excited to launch applications for my Ambassadors Programme, a voluntary opportunity for young people aged 16 and 17 to amplify the voices of children in England and to join me to champion their solutions in front of changemakers and policymakers:
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Brilliant afternoon in parliament speaking to colleagues from across the House about how, together, we can deliver for children.
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A very happy Christmas to all. Thinking of young carers, all carers working over the holiday to support children & all children who can’t be with family & loved ones. & many thanks & Christmas wishes to everyone my team & I have had the pleasure to visit & work with this year🎄🤶
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Looking forward to visiting the children of Bolton next week with Bernie Brown DCS on the first leg of launching
#TheBigAsk
across England
#Bolton
❤️
@ChildrensComm
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Wonderful to share the views of England’s children on the importance of community, play, sport & & school to help them thrive after lockdown
@YouthSportTrust
conference. Very impressed by the Youth Board who had powerful stories of how sport had changed their lives
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Lovely interview with
@MarcusRashford
- especially the Q&A’s with the children at his old primary school. What an exceptional young man. I’m really grateful he helped me with introducing
#TheBigAsk
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The beautiful, smiling picture of Star Hobson reminds us how precious the life of each child is. What she endured is unspeakable but it must not be unthinkable. We need to ask hard ?s about how this happened & the even harder ?s about how this is the 2nd case in recent weeks. 1/2
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My
@ChildrensComm
Ambassadors - who’ve travelled from up and down the country - in
@educationgovuk
getting ready to take
#TheBigAmbition
to Parliament
@HouseofCommons
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lovely to meet
@FloellaBenjamin
today ....through the square window.....an inspirational campaigner for protecting children against online harms
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Great to be on
@thismorning
speaking with Holly and Phil about how the online world can impact on childrens mental health and how young people want parents and carers to support them
#childrensmentalhealthweek
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Wonderful to be back
@britishmuseum
for the first time since lockdown. The Babylonian lion is as fierce as ever...
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Great to discuss children’s mental and physical health with
@sajidjavid
who was very driven and passionate about putting children at the centre of his plans. Really good to talk around these and wider issues for children with him.
Today the Children’s Commissioner met with the Health Secretary to discuss putting children at the heart of the recovery from the pandemic: mental health provision, disability and joined up healthcare for children, and the findings from the Big Ask.
A positive meeting
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Interviewed by the excellent
@katyballs
in the Spec about the children we need to get back to school and more
@spectator
#lifegoal
#womenwithballs
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Great to discuss the importance of high quality RSE and supporting children and families with Miriam Cates MP today.
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I am determined to see the online safety bill pass through parliament. I want this legislation now. I want it quickly and we must all get behind such a crucial moment to do all we can to protect children online
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Heading to Birmingham for
#TheBigAsk
- now at 450K responses - my brilliant evidence team
@ChildrensComm
are working so hard preparing to analyse the responses. Over a week left so please keep filling in. We are very grateful to everyone who has done the survey
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Happy New Year - thank you to everyone working so hard for children. Let’s ensure in 2023 we keep making the changes needed so every child can flourish - be safe & well, heard, loved and experience the joy of a happy childhood.
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Heading to the Kent intake unit and hotels this morning with my team for the third time this summer to hear directly from unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC) about their hopes, views and experiences and to check that their rights are being upheld.
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Excellent discussion about how to keep children safe online with
@educationgovuk
ChildrensMinister
@willquince
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Very important piece from
@soniasodha
and a timely and strong reminder:
‘Without adequate safeguards, institutional abuse will always happen: ...No institution is immune.’
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Good to give evidence on childrens rights, particularly those in care, care leavers, UASC and those with SEND at the 94 th UNCRC hearing in Geneva and powerful to hear all the other UK evidence from colleagues and children and young people too.
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