Children’s rights

Guidance and services

• Children and young people’s participation standards: good practice guide
  Guidance on how to use the participation standards to include children in decision making.
• Advocacy standards and outcomes framework for children and young people
  The standards advocacy service providers have to meet when supporting children and young people.
• Complain about Welsh Government as a young person
  Make a complaint about us when things go wrong.
• Children and young people’s participation standards: factsheet
  A summary of the standards and how they will improve how we communicate with children and young people.
• Publication of children's rights impact assessments
  Children’s rights impact assessments enable ministers to comply with section 1 of the Rights of Children and Young Persons (Wales) Measure 2011.
• Subscribe to the Ending Physical Punishment in Wales newsletter
  Sign up to our email newsletters, for the latest news, updates and policies.
• Children’s rights: information for young people
  Provides information for children and young people about their rights.
• Children's Rights Impact Assessment template: guidance for staff in the Welsh Government
  How to do a Children's Rights Impact Assessment as part of the Integrated Impact Assessment.
• Children’s Rights Scheme: manual for Welsh Government staff
  How to embed children’s rights in the work you do.
• Children’s rights: complaints leaflet
  How to complain about the Welsh Government as a young person.
• United Nations Convention on the Right of the Child: poster
  A poster summarising the United Nations Convention on the Right of the Child
• An introduction to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: booklet
  A booklet explaining the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• Out of Court Parenting Support Grant: guidance
  Explains to local authorities, police and youth offending teams how the grant is funded and how to administer it.
• Ending Physical Punishment in Wales: physical punishment, like smacking, soon to be illegal in Wales
  A new Welsh Government law giving children the same protection as adults from assault will come into force on 21 March 2022.

Policy and background Includes strategy, reports, projects and assessments.

• Children’s Rights Scheme 2021
  Policy and strategy
  How we will consider the rights of children and young people in the work we do.
• Children’s Rights Scheme 2014
  Policy and strategy
  How we will consider the rights of children and young people in the work we do.
• Children's rights in Wales
  Policy and strategy
  Explains how the Welsh Government promotes children's rights and how the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) are used in policy development.
• Rights of Children and Young Persons (Wales) Measure 2011: compliance report
  Report
  How the work we do conforms to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) due regard duty.
• United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, concluding observations UK report 2016: Welsh Government update
  Report
  A look at our progress in the policy areas we are responsible for.
• Children’s Commissioner for Wales annual report 2019 to 2020: Welsh Government response
  Report
  Children's Commissioner for Wales
  Our response to the Children’s Commissioner for Wales annual report for 2019 to 2020.
• Children’s Commissioner for Wales annual report 2018 to 2019: Welsh Government response
  Report
  Our response to the Children’s Commissioner for Wales annual report for 2018 to 2019.
• Children’s Commissioner for Wales annual report 2017 to 2018: Welsh Government response
  Report
  Our response to the Children’s Commissioner for Wales annual report for 2017 to 2018.
• Rights of children and young people: compliance report
  Report
  Report on what we have done to raise awareness of children's rights and include them in our actions.
• Children’s rights impact assessment: regulations governing school premises closures
  Impact assessment
  This impact assessment is about the provisions in regulations for schools to close to all but excepted learners in January 2021.
• Ending physical punishment in Wales
  Collection
  Resources and background information on the change in law.
• 2 stage assessment and approval process: flexible arrangements (children's rights impact assessment)
  Impact assessment
  To enable stage 1 and 2 of the adoption assessment and approval process to run at the same time, during COVID-19.
• Alert levels and restrictions in Wales: children’s rights (impact assessment)
  Impact assessment
  An impact assessment on the COVID-19 alert levels and restrictions and their effects on children's rights.
• Future Wales: integrated sustainability appraisal
  Report
  The final integrated impact assessment of Future Wales.
• Virtual medical assessment for prospective adopters: children’s rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  The introduction of a virtual medical assessment process for prospective adopters, during COVID-19.
• The Education (Admission Appeals Arrangements) (Wales) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020: children’s rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how the regulations affect children’s rights
• Whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing framework guidance: impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how the framework helps schools to review their wellbeing provision and make plans on their weaknesses and strengths.
• Housing Support Grant Practice Guidance: children’s rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how the Housing Support Grant Practice Guidance affects children’s rights.
• All Wales COVID-19 Workforce Risk Assessment Tool: children's rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  A summary of the effects of the COVID-19 workforce risk assessment tool on children's rights.
• Consultation on amendments to Firefighter Pension Schemes in Wales 2020: children’s rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how the consultation on amendments to Firefighter Pension Schemes in Wales affects children’s rights.
• Updated alert level 4 restrictions as at 18 February 2021: summary impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An updated impact assessment for level 4 restrictions.
• Moving to remote learning until 18 January 2021: children’s rights
  Impact assessment
  An impact assessment on moving to remote learning and the effects on children's rights.
• Supreme Court 2021/0079 and 2021/0080 Counsel General written case
  Policy and strategy
  The Counsel General’s legal case in relation to his participation in the reference of two Scottish Parliament Bills to the Supreme Court.
• Self-assessment medical assessment for foster carers: children's rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  The introduction of a self-declaration health process for prospective foster carers, during COVID-19.
• Restrictions on gatherings: support bubbles for households with children under one
  Impact assessment
  Considers the impact on children’s rights of an easement of level 4 restrictions related to gatherings, to allow support bubbles for households with children under one.
• Amendment to assured and assured shorthold tenancies: integrated impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  A summary of the effects of extending the period of notice that landlords must give to tenants.
• Decisions to allow all learners to return to schools and settings in September: impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  The assessment focuses on the impacts of allowing all learners to return to schools and settings in Wales from September 2020.
• NHS Wales annual planning framework 2021 to 2022: integrated impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  We assessed how the NHS Wales annual planning framework 2021 to 2022 affects a number of areas.
• Funding for post-16 education 2021 to 2022: impact assessments
  Impact assessment
  Assessments on the deployment of the funding for post-16 education.
• Increasing operations in schools and settings in response to COVID-19: impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  The assessment focusses on the impacts of decisions made following lockdown measures in March 2020.
• Childcare, Play and Early Years Division response to COVID-19: children's rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  Assessment of decisions around COVID-19 during March 2020 and April 2020.
• Connected Communities Tackling loneliness and social isolation: children’s rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how the tackling loneliness and social isolation strategy affects children’s rights.
• The Public Health (Protection from Eviction) (Wales) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2021: children’s rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  How the regulations will affect children's rights.
• Talk With Me Speech, Language and Communication Delivery Plan 2020 to 2021: children’s rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how the Speech, Language and Communication Delivery Plan 2020 to 2021 affects children’s rights.
• Bus Services (Wales) Bill: children’s rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how the Bus Services (Wales) Bill affects children’s rights.
• Baby Bundles Scheme: children’s rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how the Baby Bundles Scheme affects children’s rights.
• Impact of shielding on vulnerable individuals: children's rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  A summary of the effect of shielding on the extremely vulnerable group in Wales.
• Amendments to the Education (Induction Arrangements for School Teachers) (Wales) 2015 due to Covid-19: children’s rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how changes to the induction arrangements for school teachers affects children’s rights.
• Draft Additional Learning Needs Co-ordinator (Wales) Regulations 2020: children’s rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how the ALNCo regulations promote children’s rights.
• Child burial and cremations: Children’s rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment on how our child burial and cremations guidance will affect children’s rights.
• The Childcare Offer for Wales: children’s rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how The Childcare Offer for Wales affects children’s rights.
• The Smoke-free Premises and Vehicles (Wales) Regulations 2020: children's rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  How the regulations will affect children's rights.
• Ensuring Access to the Full Curriculum: children’s rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how ensuring access to the full curriculum affects children’s rights.
• The Additional Learning Needs Code and regulations: children’s rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how the Additional Learning Needs Code and regulations promote children’s rights.
• Food and Drink Capital Programme: children’s rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how the Food and Drink Capital Programme affects children’s rights.
• Amendment to assured and assured shorthold tenancies: children’s rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  A summary of how extending the period of notice that landlords must give to tenants will affect children and their rights.
• Curriculum for Wales 2022 guidance: children’s rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how the curriculum for Wales 2022 guidance affects children’s rights
• Phased return to face-to-face teaching on 15 March 2021: children’s rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An impact assessment on increasing onsite learning from 15 March 2021.
• Winter protection plan 2020 to 2021: children's rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how the Winter Protection Plan 2020 to 2021 will affect children's rights.
• Beyond recycling: children's rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment on the impact of the Beyond Recycling strategy on children's rights.
• Priorities for the Visitor Economy: children’s rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how the priorities for the visitor economy affect children’s rights.
• Socio-economic Duty: children’s rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how the Socio-economic Duty affects children’s rights.
• Substance misuse delivery plan 2019 to 2022: children's rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  A summary of how the substance misuse delivery plan 2019 to 2022 will affect a children's rights.
• Provision of education in response to COVID-19: impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  We assessed the impact of the initial policy decisions taken in response to COVID-19 from early March 2020 to mid-June 2020.
• Local authority education databases: children’s rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how local authority education databases affect children’s rights
• Enabling Gypsies, Roma and Travellers plan: children’s rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how the Enabling Gypsies, Roma and Travellers plan affects children’s rights.
• The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Residential Tenancies: Protection From Eviction) (Wales) Regulations 2020: children’s rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how the regulations will impact on children's rights.
• Autism code of practice: children's rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how the autism code of practice affects children’s rights.
• Together for Mental Health delivery plan 2019 to 2022: children’s rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how the Together for Mental Health delivery plan affects children’s rights.
• Phased return to face-to-face teaching on 12 April 2021: children’s rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  A children's rights impact assessment on full return to onsite learning from 12 April 2021.
• Tenancy Saver Loan Scheme: children's rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  How the scheme affects children's rights.
• The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Residential Tenancies: Protection From Eviction) (Wales) Regulations 2020: integrated impact assessment summary
  Impact assessment
  A summary of how the regulations will impact on a number of areas.
• Nanny scheme: integrated impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  A summary of how the nanny scheme will impact on a number of areas.
• Digital strategy for Wales: integrated impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how the digital strategy for Wales will impact on a number of areas.
• Market stability reports: integrated impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  Commencement of section 144B of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, and development of supporting regulations and code of practice and statutory guidance.
• All Wales research and development delivery funding model: integrated impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  We assessed how this funding model would impact on a number of areas.
• Coronavirus restrictions review 14 May 2021: summary impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An impact assessment on measures to manage COVID-19.
• Coronavirus restrictions review 22 April 2021: summary impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An impact assessment on measures to manage COVID-19.
• Coronavirus restrictions review 1 April 2021: summary impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An impact assessment on measures to manage COVID-19.
• Coronavirus restrictions review March 11 2021: summary impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An impact assessment on measures to manage COVID-19 in Wales.
• Assessment of additional measures proposed to manage COVID-19 in Wales from 6 July: equality impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how our measures to manage COVID-19 affect equality of opportunity (additional measures from 6 July).
• The Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill: impact assessments
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill will impact teaching and learning.
• Letter to the Commission from Children's Commissioner for Wales
  Public response
  Commission on Justice in Wales, Children's Commissioner for Wales
  Letter to the Commission from the Children's Commissioner for Wales
• Children’s Commissioner for Wales annual report 2020 to 2021: Welsh Government response
  Report
  Children's Commissioner for Wales
  Our response to the Children’s Commissioner for Wales annual report for 2020 to 2021.
• Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 Strategic Implementation Group meeting: 5 May 2021
  Meeting
  Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 Implementation Groups
  Minutes from the meeting held 5 May 2021.
• Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 Strategic Implementation Group meeting: 21 July 2021
  Meeting
  Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 Implementation Groups
  Minutes from the meeting held 21 July 2021.
• Raising awareness of children’s rights
  Policy and strategy
  How we will inform the public of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in Wales.
• Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 Expert Stakeholder Group Meeting: 16 September 2021
  Meeting
  Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 Implementation Groups
  Minutes from the meeting held 16 September 2021.
• Children (Abolition of the Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act Training, Operations, Guidance and Diversion Task and Finish Group: 3 March 2021
  Meeting
  Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 Implementation Groups
  Minutes from the meeting held 3 March 2021.
• Nanny scheme: children's rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  A summary of how the nanny scheme will impact on children's rights.
• Children (Abolition of the Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act Training, Operations, Guidance and Diversion Task and Finish Group: 15 April 2021
  Meeting
  Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 Implementation Groups
  Minutes from the meeting held 15 April 2021.
• Childcare Funding (Wales) Bill: children’s rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment on how the Childcare Funding (Wales) Bill affects children’s rights.
• Coronavirus restrictions review 15 July 2021: summary impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An impact assessment on measures to manage COVID-19.
• Coronavirus Childcare Assistance Scheme and reopening childcare offer: integrated impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  A summary of how reopening the scheme after coronavirus will impact on a number of areas.
• The Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Bill: children's rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment on how the Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Bill affects children’s rights.
• Coronavirus restrictions review 5 August 2021: summary impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An impact assessment on measures to manage COVID-19.
• Children (Abolition of the Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act Training, Operations, Guidance and Diversion Task and Finish Group: 4 April 2022
  Meeting
  Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 Implementation Groups
  Minutes from the meeting held 4 April 2022.
• Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 Strategic Implementation Group meeting: 14 July 2022
  Meeting
  Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 Implementation Groups
  Minutes from the meeting held 14 July 2022.
• Alert Levels in Wales - a guide to restrictions: summary impact assessment August 2021
  Impact assessment
  We assessed the impact of the alert level system for coronavirus restrictions on a number of areas.
• Draft Child Minding and Day Care (Disqualification) (Wales) Regulations 2022: regulatory impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  Summary of the costs and benefits of the changes that are planned
• Children (Abolition of the Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act Training, Operations, Guidance and Diversion Task and Finish Group: 4 March 2022
  Meeting
  Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 Implementation Groups
  Minutes from the meeting held 4 March 2022.
• United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Welsh Government report 2022
  Report
  Our response to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child on how we are protecting children's rights in Wales.
• A healthier Wales: children's rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how our long term plan for health and social care will affect children's rights.
• Children (Abolition of the Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act Training, Operations, Guidance and Diversion Task and Finish Group: 8 June 2021
  Meeting
  Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 Implementation Groups
  Minutes from the meeting held 8 June 2021.
• Draft Child Minding and Day Care (Disqualification) (Wales) Regulations 2022: integrated impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  A summary of how changes to the regulations will impact on a number of areas.
• Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 Data Collection and Monitoring Task and Finish Group: 21 April 2021
  Meeting
  Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 Implementation Groups
  Minutes from the meeting held 21 April 2021.
• Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 Expert Stakeholder Group meeting: 18 May 2022
  Meeting
  Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 Implementation Groups
  Minutes from the virtual meeting held 18 May 2022.
• Looked after children: children’s rights impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  Improving Outcomes for Children Advisory Group
  An assessment on how the reduction expectation plans affects children’s rights.
• Children (Abolition of the Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act Training, Operations, Guidance and Diversion Task and Finish Group: 19 August 2021
  Meeting
  Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 Implementation Groups
  Minutes from the meeting held 19 August 2021.
• Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 Expert Stakeholder Group Meeting: 8 December 2021
  Meeting
  Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 Implementation Groups
  Minutes from the meeting held 8 December 2021.
• Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 Strategic Implementation Group meeting: 20 October 2021
  Meeting
  Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 Implementation Groups
  Minutes from the meeting held 20 October 2021
• Business Wales future provision: children’s rights full impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An assessment of how the Business Wales future provision affects children’s rights.
• Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 Parenting Expert Action Group meeting: 22 April 2021
  Meeting
  Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 Implementation Groups
  Minutes from the meeting held 22 April 2021.
• Children (Abolition of the Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act Training, Operations, Guidance and Diversion Task and Finish Group: 17 January 2022
  Meeting
  Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 Implementation Groups
  Minutes from the meeting held 17 January 2022.
• Children’s Commissioner for Wales annual report 2021 to 2022: Welsh Government response
  Report
  Children's Commissioner for Wales
  Our response to the Children’s Commissioner for Wales annual report for 2021 to 2022.
• Children and young people's plan
  Policy and strategy
  What we will do to support children and young people who are growing up, living and working in Wales.
• Children (Abolition of the Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act Training, Operations, Guidance and Diversion Task and Finish Group: 4 October 2021
  Meeting
  Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 Implementation Groups
  Minutes from the meeting held 4 and 18 October 2021.
• Children (Abolition of the Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act Training, Operations, Guidance and Diversion Task and Finish Group: 14 June 2022
  Meeting
  Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 Implementation Groups
  Minutes from the meeting held 14 June 2022.
• Amendments to the Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility) (Wales) Regulations 2014: integrated impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  How changes to the regulations to reflect the immigration status of victims of slavery or human trafficking and their eligibility to housing and homelessness assistance will impact on a number of areas.
• Coronavirus restrictions review 3 June 2021: summary impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  An impact assessment on measures to manage COVID-19.
• Proposals to reopen outdoor playgrounds and indoor play centres: integrated impact assessment
  Impact assessment
  How reopening play settings following their closure due to coronavirus will impact on a number of areas.
• Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 Strategic Implementation Group meeting: 26 January 2022
  Meeting
  Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 Implementation Groups
  Minutes from the meeting held 26 January 2022.