Source: Children’s Commissioner published on this website Wednesday 14 January 2026 by Jill Powell

• Second report into illegal children’s homes by Children’s Commissioner shows one year on, vulnerable children are still being housed in caravans, holiday camps or AirBnBs – some for as long as three years 

• Number of illegal placements costing £1 million per child rises, despite these settings being unable to provide safety or care – at an estimated total cost of £353 million to the taxpayer 

• Most children placed in illegal homes have mental health or additional educational needs – more than half have Education, Health and Care Plans 

• “This is what failure looks like”: Children’s Commissioner calls for specialist foster care, more children’s homes and a new focus for reforming children’s social care 

More than half of children housed illegally by councils have Education, Health and Care Plans, new data from the Children’s Commissioner confirms – as the number of illegal placements costing more than £1 million per child has risen since last year. 

One year on from the Commissioner’s first report into local authorities’ use of illegal homes – including AirBnBs, holiday camps and caravans – to accommodate children in care, data shows very little has changed: on 1^st September this year, there were 669 children living in illegal homes, down from 764 on the same day last year.  

Nearly 60% of these children have complex additional needs or disabilities requiring an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), meaning they likely also receive support from other services beyond social care, while more than one third (36%) are receiving support from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). 

Of the 669 children placed illegally, 89 have been living in the same illegal placement for more than one year. While most are over 15, there are some children of pre-school age growing up in illegal children’s homes.  

The average duration of these illegal placements is a little over six months. One child was at put in a holiday camp for nearly nine months, another was in a caravan for more than four months and a handful of children remained in an illegal home for more than three years. 

The average weekly cost of a placement was more than £10,000 – the equivalent to more than half a million pounds over the course of a year. In total councils across England have spent an estimated £353 million on illegal children’s homes in 2025, of which 36 placements had already cost £1 million each by 1^st September.  

Today’s data underscores the crisis in children’s social care, with children – many extremely vulnerable or with complex needs – placed in poor quality placements at an exorbitant cost to taxpayers.  

Source: UK Safer Internet Centre (UKSIC)  published on this website Wednesday 3 December 2025 by Jill Powell

To help you deliver sessions for Safer Internet Day, UKSIC have created a range of free, engaging and interactive resources on this year's official theme: Smart tech, safe choices – Exploring the safe and responsible use of AI

Whether you are a school, nursery, youth group, library, police service, or wider, these educational resources have been specifically designed to support educators in delivering messages about AI that are suitable for all ages.

These free resources are designed for use with 3-7, 7-11, 11-14 and 14-18 year olds, with each resource pack containing presentation slides, activities and also an assembly for the whole school.

Download Resources

Source: UK Internet Centre (UKIC) published on this site Tuesday 6 January 2026

Safer Internet Day 2026 will take place on 10 February 2026 with the theme “Smart tech, safe choices – Exploring the safe and responsible use of AI.” This year’s campaign highlights an issue that has rapidly become a global discussion, how can we use artificial intelligence safely and responsibly?
It’s more important than ever for schools, charities, businesses, and community organisations to come together to raise awareness, share good practice, and help people of all ages make safe, informed choices online. Here’s how you and your organisation can get involved, and why your support matters.

The best way to get involved with Safer Internet Day 2026 is to register your support. By signing up as a supporter, your organisation:

– Joins the national celebration and officially includes you on the Safer Internet Day supporters map.

– Gives you the opportunity to share your planned activities for Safer Internet Day with thousands of other organisations

– Helps to raise awareness around how to stay safe online, especially around AI.

Registration is simple and free via the official supporter registration form. It asks for basic details and a short description of what you are planning to do to celebrate Safer Internet Day.

Register Your Support

Whether you’re an educator, youth worker, librarian, or community group leader, a suite of free education resources is available to help you plan impactful Safer Internet Day activities. These resources cover different age groups (from early years to teens) and are designed to make discussions about AI and online safety engaging and age-appropriate. Materials include:

– Presentation slides and activities

– Lesson plans and assembly guides

– Adaptable content for different settings (schools, youth groups, libraries)

– These resources make it easy to deliver meaningful conversations and learning opportunities tailored to your audience.

To support safe behaviour online, the UK Safer Internet Centre has developed top tips and practical advice for a range of audiences:

Top Tips for Young People – practical, age-appropriate guidance on understanding and using AI and digital tools responsibly.
Top Tips for Parents & Carers – support families with confidence to talk about online experiences and navigate AI tools safely.
Quizzes for Learners – fun, interactive quizzes for ages 7–11 and 11–14 to test online safety knowledge and spark conversations.

These assets are ideal for use in classrooms, clubs, or at home, helping to reinforce your Safer Internet Day activities in a fun and accessible way.

Organisations can host a range of Safer Internet Day activities, such as:
Workshops or assemblies exploring digital wellbeing and safe tech use
Interactive sessions on AI – what it is, how it works, and how to use it safely
Community or parent workshops to build understanding and confidence around online safety.

Once you’re registered:

– Share your support across your websites or social media.
– Share your activities on social media using official the official hashtag #SaferInternetDay.
– Encourage partners and other networks to join and support the cause.

Every organisation, no matter how big or small, plays a fundamental part in building a safer internet environment. Help us make Safer Internet Day 2026 one to remember. Register your organisation’s support today and help inspire safe, confident and informed technology use across your community. Together, we can make the internet a better place for everyone.

Source: Police Scotland published on this website Tuesday 2 December 2025 by Jill Powell

Three woman have been convicted in connection with child cruelty and assaults in the 1970s and 1980s at two homes run by the Sisters of Nazareth in Scotland.

Eileen McElhinney, aged 78, Carol Buirds, aged 75, and Dorothy Kane, aged 68, were convicted at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Friday, 28 November, 2025.

They will be sentenced at a later date.

The offences took place between 1972 and 1981 at children’s homes in Lasswade, Midlothian, and in Kilmarnock.

Detective Inspector Lynn McPhail, senior investigating officer from Police Scotland’s National Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said:

 “This was a harrowing and complex investigation, and I hope these convictions bring some form of closure for those who were treated inhumanely.

“I would like to thank the victims for coming forward. It is never easy, even with the passage of time, to talk about these kinds of experiences. The acts carried out by these women towards children they were supposed to be taking care of and protecting, were horrendous. Their behaviour included kicking, punching and pushing children, hitting them with objects, locking a child in a room without food or water, forcing one to eat soap, and making others take cold showers.

“I would also like to thank all the officers who worked on this investigation and commend them for their dedicated work alongside partners to bring these women to justice.

“I urge anyone who has experienced abuse to come forward, regardless of the passage of time. We have specialist officers you can speak to.

“Anyone with information or concerns about child abuse should call us on 101 or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”