Childrens Commissioner

[uf353432]

I'm studying my foundation degree and just wanted to do a straw poll in reference to the childrens commissioners. Can I ask for your feedback on the following:

1) Did you know that there is a childrens commissioner for England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales with a dedicated website aimed at children in each country?

2) If you have a computer that mindee's can use, is there a link to the website and have you introduced it to children in your care?

3) If you know about the childrens commissioner how did you hear about it?


England http://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/
Wales http://www.childcom.org.uk/
Scotland http://www.sccyp.org.uk/
Northern Ireland http://www.niccy.org/
Rebulic of Ireland http://www.oco.ie/


I'll go first - in 3 years of childminding I have never come across the role 'childrens commissioner' and the first time I heard of the role was reading it in my study materials. Nor have I been told about the website in my role as parent by the school my daughter attends, I asked my daughter about it and she hasn't heard about it either.

One of the things I need to consider when answering my next Assignment is the barriers to implementing social policy - I am interested to find out if there is lack of communication about the childrens commissioner which as a result prevents children accessing it.

Thanks and best wishes

[christine e]

Here are my answers

1) I knew that there was a Childrens Commissioner for England but not Scotland Wales, Ireland and did not know about the website

2)I have not introduced the website to the children in my care (but will be looking at it in future)

3)I know about the childrens commissioner because the first commissioner Al Aynsley Green was guest speaker at a conference I attended a few years ago

Christine

[*daisychain*]

short and sweet
1) no
2)no
3) n/a

[sarah707]

No

No - but I will have a look at it now I do know

N/a

[The Juggler]

I'm studying my foundation degree and just wanted to do a straw poll in reference to the childrens commissioners. Can I ask for your feedback on the following:

1) Did you know that there is a childrens commissioner for England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales with a dedicated website aimed at children in each country?

2) If you have a computer that mindee's can use, is there a link to the website and have you introduced it to children in your care?

3) If you know about the childrens commissioner how did you hear about it?


England http://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/
Wales http://www.childcom.org.uk/
Scotland http://www.sccyp.org.uk/
Northern Ireland http://www.niccy.org/
Rebulic of Ireland http://www.oco.ie/


I'll go first - in 3 years of childminding I have never come across the role 'childrens commissioner' and the first time I heard of the role was reading it in my study materials. Nor have I been told about the website in my role as parent by the school my daughter attends, I asked my daughter about it and she hasn't heard about it either.

One of the things I need to consider when answering my next Assignment is the barriers to implementing social policy - I am interested to find out if there is lack of communication about the childrens commissioner which as a result prevents children accessing it.

Thanks and best wishes

I knew there was one but not a separate one for wales, england scotland. I did NOT know about the website.

as above

I knew about the CC from the safeguarding module I did during my FD.

[miffy]

Here are my answers

1) I knew that there was a Childrens Commissioner for England but not Scotland Wales, Ireland and did not know about the website

2)I have not introduced the website to the children in my care (but will be looking at it in future)

3)I know about the childrens commissioner because the first commissioner Al Aynsley Green was guest speaker at a conference I attended a few years ago

Christine

Same as Christine

Miffy xx

[Kiddleywinks]

Short and sweet here too

1. No
2. No - but will now go and check it out
3. N/A - unless you now count that I heard it from you

Good luck for your degree x

[loocyloo]

no, no and n/a !!!

i'd heard the term, but not in any meaningful way that made me remember it/look it up! doing a good job then aren't they

[uf353432]

no, no and n/a !!!

i'd heard the term, but not in any meaningful way that made me remember it/look it up! doing a good job then aren't they

See this is the scary thing - how will children know if people don't tell them? and how will people tell them if the people who set these things up don't tell their special people? Children have an independant advocate and yet can't access it because they haven't been told.

Keep your feedback coming please - and thanks to those who have replied already!

[rickysmiths]

I had heard about it.

Not sure from where.

Not been on the site.

I wouldn't have had a link for children in my care because i don't make a computer available for them. I leave it to school and the parents to do

However I might of informed the parents about the web site if I had known about it.

Surely all schools should have told children about it and allow access? Have you asked your local schools?

[blue bear]

short and sweet
1) no
2)no
3) n/a

Same here.

[Smiley]

Yes I know about them
No I haven't let children access the sites
I heard about the one for England when it was launched a few years ago, it was on the national news

[uf353432]

I had heard about it.


Surely all schools should have told children about it and allow access? Have you asked your local schools?

That was my next route

But i'm not going to assume that they have told children about it, it would seem a sensible route, schools can then tell parents - I wonder if thats the reality though? my daughter goes to school and she has never heard of it.

[manjay]

A passionate interest of mine and very big here in Wales. Massive focus on UNCRC and children's rights and participation and the role of the children's commisioner is well publicised.

The UNCRC is a big part of the Childcare standards in Wales and having knowledge of the Children's Commissioner is integral to meeting those standards. I have posters and leaflets in my setting (and which go out to parents) to get this information across.

In my role as school governor I can also say it is high profile in our school. The school council feeds into children's rights and participation and the role of the commissioner is explained to the children. What the school are not very good at is sharing the info with parents but I am working on that one.

[uf353432]

A passionate interest of mine and very big here in Wales. Massive focus on UNCRC and children's rights and participation and the role of the children's commisioner is well publicised.

The UNCRC is a big part of the Childcare standards in Wales and having knowledge of the Children's Commissioner is integral to meeting those standards. I have posters and leaflets in my setting (and which go out to parents) to get this information across.

In my role as school governor I can also say it is high profile in our school. The school council feeds into children's rights and participation and the role of the commissioner is explained to the children. What the school are not very good at is sharing the info with parents but I am working on that one.

I really like your childrens commissioner - I watched a short film about him as it followed him around doing his job - he comes across as a really nice man and has an exceptional way with children, excellant listening skills and a real champion of childrens rights.

I also like your participation standards and have printed them off to incorporate them in my setting.

I might move to Wales lol!