In Episode 14, the Children's Commissioner and Youth Ambassadors, Annabel, Ben, Emma, Finlay and Valerie, speak to Minister Gould, Minister of State (Minister for School Standards). The Ambassadors share their own personal experiences with education, particularly around additional needs including special educational needs, disabilities, young carer responsibilities, mental health struggles and disrupted schooling, and discuss educational reforms needed.

The podcast was recorded before before the publication of the SEND White Paper in March. The SEND reform consultation closes on 18th May and you can share your views here: https://consult.education.gov.uk/send-strategy-division/send-reform-putting-children-and-young-people-firs/.

Tell the Children's Commissioner what it’s like growing up in England, your hopes and ambitions and what would make England the best place to be a child by having your say: www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/the-big-conversation.

#TheBigConversation

Please note there is varying sound quality throughout this recording.

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In Episode 13, Youth Ambassadors, Annabel, Anthony, Ariana, Valerie, Violet and Yusuf, speak to Lord Nash and Fabio D'Andrea about the positives and negatives of smartphones and social media and how children can be supported and safe online.

Lord Nash has proposed in Parliament that social media be banned for children under 16 because of the evidence showing its impact on their mental health and wellbeing. Fabio D’Andrea has created ‘Another Way’, a film about the dangers of smartphones and social media for young people which was launched in Parliament earlier this year.

Tell the Children's Commissioner what it’s like growing up in England, your hopes and ambitions and what would make England the best place to be a child by having your say in The Big Conversation Survey: www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/the-big-conversation.

#TheBigConversation

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In Episode 12, Youth Ambassadors, Annabel & Rosanna, speak to Josh Pelled, Founder & CEO of Bright Futures UK, about what children need to stay connected to their education when they're away from school due to long-term illness and the problems with the support system and communication between services.

Bright Futures UK is the only charity in the UK dedicated to supporting young people aged five to 24, who miss school due to serious or long-term illness. Find out more about the support they offer: https://brightfuturesuk.org/.

Tell the Children's Commissioner what it’s like growing up in England, your hopes and ambitions and what would make England the best place to be a child by having your say in The Big Conversation Survey: www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/the-big-conversation.

#TheBigConversation

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.