Key facts
- Children's services in parts of England are in a "state of emergency."
- Middlesbrough, Hounslow, Bradford, Nottingham, Halton, Peterborough, Leicester, Liverpool, Sunderland, and Medway identified as hardest places for children.
- Cheshire East, Merton, Surrey, and Richmond upon Thames identified as least challenging.
- Report cites issues like child poverty, poor educational outcomes, long health waiting lists, and safety concerns.
Children's services in certain areas of England are facing a "state of emergency" due to systemic failures that hinder children's well-being and safety, according to a report by England's Children's Commissioner, Rachel de Souza. The report, "The Children's Lottery," analyzed over 160 official measures, including child poverty, educational outcomes, community safety, and healthcare access. It identified specific deprived areas like Middlesbrough and Nottingham as particularly challenging, contrasting them with wealthier areas such as Cheshire East and Surrey. De Souza highlighted a north-south divide in child outcomes and called for government intervention.