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Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board responded to the publication of the Children’s Commissioner’s report ‘Big Ask’ about the impact of the pandemic on children and young people 

“This report, which puts children’s voices at its heart, provides a much needed focus on children and young people and will be a valuable way of helping to create places that enable children to thrive and deliver policies that really work for children whose lives have been hugely affected by the pandemic. The report shows decision makers what is important to children and young people and how they can be at the heart of building back better.

“To respond to what children and young people have told us, we need funding to reinvest in vital universal and early help services, including mental health and wellbeing services for children and young people, and properly resourced holistic family support for families experiencing financial hardship.

“Inclusion also needs incentivising in schools by empowering Ofsted to consider this during inspections, holding schools accountable for the outcomes of excluded pupils and fully funding support for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

“If services are to best support children and their families, including those who are disadvantaged, government needs to introduce a cross-Whitehall strategy for children and young people which clearly states the role of each department in delivering better prospects for children to ensure no one is left behind.”

The Big Ask: The Big Answer