Nursery World - New defence of children's rights

Calls for England to have an independent children's commissioner have been renewed in the wake of the appointment of Margaret Hodge as its first minister for children. The calls were made this week by speakers in London at the 11th European Network for School-Age Childcare conference. They said children must play an active part in developing services meant for them, and that all, regardless of ethnicity, social class or disability status, must have a say in matters that concern them.

The calls were made this week by speakers in London at the 11th European Network for School-Age Childcare conference. They said children must play an active part in developing services meant for them, and that all, regardless of ethnicity, social class or disability status, must have a say in matters that concern them.

Three children's commissioners - Peter Clark, children's commissioner for Wales, Lena Nyberg, Sweden's children's ombudsman, and Roger McClay, commissioner for children in New Zealand - spoke at the conference.

Dr Pat Petrie of the Institute of Education's Thomas Coram Research Unit, who co-organised the conference, said, 'The Government has made a positive move in creating a minister for children. But this legislative appointment does not guarantee children's voices will be heard.'

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