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Children's Law Centre @childlawcentre.bsky.social · 5d

Our latest Newsletter is now out. Don't forget to sign up to get Child Rights Matters straight to your inbox.

All the latest news, publications and training offers - buff.ly/B1OviOr

Latest News

New Podcast By Youth@CLC

Withdrawal from Restraint and Seclusion Group

New Training

The rights of children with special educational needs

Voice of the Child in Legal Proceedings

Advocating on behalf of children in need

Children's Law Centre @childlawcentre.bsky.social · 9d

A new podcast by Youth@CLC - Rights Unmuted - empowers young people to discuss important issues. The series covers topics chosen by young people, including global rights, poverty, school uniforms, mental health and more.

Read more at buff.ly/tTaxNWy

Rights Unmuted

NEW PODCAST PUTS CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE AT THE HEART OF THE CONVERSATION

Brought to you by Youth@CLC

“Too often the voices of children and young people are left out of important conversations. We’re aiming to change that with our new podcast Rights Unmuted”

- Ella, Youth@CLC Member

Episode 1 Out Now

Search for Rights Unmuted on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts or Castbox.

Children's Law Centre @childlawcentre.bsky.social · 17d

We were delighted to attend the event organised by PILS today to mark 25 years since the Human Rights Act was implemented.

Interesting talk by John Wadham on where we are 25 years later and looking at the future of human rights here.

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Children's Law Centre @childlawcentre.bsky.social · 18d

NICCY and CLC have again highlighted serious concerns to Education Minister Paul Givan MLA after withdrawing from the Restraint and Seclusion Task Group. Broken promises are leaving children and teachers in an extremely vulnerable position.

Read more at buff.ly/wG0xyHM

Joint Statement

Withdrawal from Restraint and Seclusion Task and Finish Group

15th October 2025

It is truly shocking in light of all of the reports and evidence available... that the Department has broken its promises and allowed both children and education staff to be left in this extremely vulnerable position.

NICCY and CLC have lost all confidence that this process will lead to child rights compliant change.

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Children's Law Centre @childlawcentre.bsky.social · 19d

Delighted to host a delegation from Irish Rule of Law International today at CLC.

Members of IRLI and CLC line up for a photo at CLC's offices Rights House.

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Children's Law Centre @childlawcentre.bsky.social · 19d

Today, the NI Assembly will discuss how to tackle child poverty and the failures of the draft Anti-Poverty Strategy.

Our response to the draft Anti-Poverty Strategy was informed by the views of children and young people themselves. You can read it at buff.ly/aQNtu7C

Children's Law Centre. Young People's Voices: Youth@CLC's response to the NI Executive's draft anti-poverty strategy.

Children's Law Centre @childlawcentre.bsky.social · 24d

Our response to the HSC's Children and Young People's Emotional Health and Wellbeing Framework is now available to download from our website.

Find it at buff.ly/pxRAQU9

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Children's Law Centre @childlawcentre.bsky.social · Oct 1

This is welcome - it will enable much needed focus on early years provision - www.education-ni.gov.uk/news/givan-w...

Givan welcomes pre-schools expanding to full-time provision

Education Minister Paul Givan has today welcomed the first cohort of pre-schools to expand their provision to full-time sessions under the Pre-School Standardisation Programme.

www.education-ni.gov.uk

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Children's Law Centre @childlawcentre.bsky.social · Sep 30

Schools in Northern Ireland are facing an "epidemic of school absence".

Read what CLC had to say about our concerns around school absences and the failure to properly tackle the crisis -

'School made me cry, shake and struggle to breathe'- more support is needed | Belfast Live

"She (the school principal) guilt-tripped me into believing that either my Ma goes to jail or I go to school. She just chose that as a threat, instead of trying to figure out what thing I could change...

www.belfastlive.co.uk

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Children's Law Centre @childlawcentre.bsky.social · Sep 30

This week, the UK Covid-19 Inquiry has started hearing evidence about the impact of the pandemic on children and young people.

Take a look back to one of our cases during lockdown to get an insight into the impact on children with additional needs - childrenslawcentre.org.uk/sedated-and-...

UK Covid-19 Inquiry

‘Sedated and Abandoned’

The Struggle to Care for My Disabled Daughter During Lockdown

“In the absence of having her special educational needs met, her behaviour escalates. She attacks us and she attacks herself.”

- Tina Fyfe

“Her dose of anti-depressants was doubled. She was then put on a huge dose of diazepam.”

- Tina Fyfe

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Children's Law Centre @childlawcentre.bsky.social · Sep 29

Too often during the pandemic, children became invisible when decisions were being made.

Lessons must be learned from the UK Covid-19 inquiry - children and young people's rights must be protected and their voices heard.

Read more - buff.ly/Gd2c0ut

NEWS

CLC Welcomes Covid Inquiry Focus on Children and Young People

Monday 29 September 2025

The Children’s Law Centre (CLC) has welcomed the UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s focus on children and young people, as module eight of the Inquiry gets underway. The Inquiry will hear a range of evidence over the coming weeks, focusing on the impact of the pandemic, as well as pandemic related policies, on children and young people.

During the pandemic, CLC consistently raised serious concerns about the adverse impact being felt by children and young people, particularly those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, children in care and children with a range of vulnerabilities. The Centre also witnessed firsthand the impact on children’s mental health, diminished access to health and social care services and access to education.

The rights of children and young people were often overlooked and decisions were taken without any consultation with children or children’s advocates. As a result, entirely avoidable harm was inflicted on many children, with the impact still being felt today.

The Children’s Law Centre had previously joined calls to ensure the UK Covid-19 Inquiry would properly consider the impact of the pandemic on children and young people and so we welcome the fact that module eight’s hearings commence today.

It is vital that lessons are learned and that the rights of children and young people are considered at the heart of decision making. Too often, children and young became invisible when decisions were being made. This led to long lasting harm that can never be allowed to happen again.

Children's Law Centre @childlawcentre.bsky.social · Sep 25

Our latest Child Rights Matters newsletter is out now, packed with updates on children's rights, training offers and the views of children and young people.

Read and subscribe at - buff.ly/xelGshb

A message from our new CEO

“I am very excited to be on this journey with you, and I look forward to working alongside all of you as we continue to strengthen children’s rights and make sure that every young person’s voice is heard.”

- John O’Doherty, Chief Executive

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Children's Law Centre @childlawcentre.bsky.social · Sep 24

Young people are clear - the draft Anti-Poverty Strategy requires radical improvement.

Read our response to the consultation, which focuses on the views of young people - buff.ly/KefUsWo

Response

Young People’s Voices:

- Youth@CLC’s Response to the Northern Ireland Executive’s Draft Anti-Poverty Strategy

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Children's Law Centre @childlawcentre.bsky.social · Sep 23

Positive to see the Education Authority engaging with the unions to explore solutions to the annual SEND placements crisis.

CLC supported the calls by the NAHT NI last week and will continue to support children and young people to secure their right to an effective education - buff.ly/ywtSQAl

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Children's Law Centre @childlawcentre.bsky.social · Sep 23

When we asked you people about their views on the draft Anti-Poverty Strategy, they highlighted housing and homelessness as a serious issue.

Keep an eye out for the publication of our response to the draft Anti-Poverty Strategy tomorrow.

Draft Anti-Poverty Strategy

“It doesn’t feel right that people who need housing are being blamed for taking houses when other people buy houses and rent them out. It’s not fair and not enough is being done for families in need.”

- Youth@CLC Member

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Children's Law Centre @childlawcentre.bsky.social · Sep 22

CLC at an event in Stormont today making the case for changes to the law to give children equal protection from assault.

CLC supports long overdue change by removing the defence of 'reasonable punishment'.

Children deserve the same protections as everyone else - buff.ly/b3bkXCI

CLC Policy and Public Affairs Manager, Fergal McFerran and CLC Policy and Public Affairs Officer Emma Murray together at an event in Stormont's Long Gallery.

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Children's Law Centre @childlawcentre.bsky.social · Sep 22

An Anti-Poverty Strategy has been a long standing commitment for the NI Executive, yet the draft Strategy has received widespread criticism. When we asked young people for their views they felt this is an opportunity that can't be missed.

Look out for our response later this week.

Draft Anti-Poverty Strategy

“It’s worrying that the Anti-Poverty Strategy was supposed to come out ages ago and that poverty was supposed to be addressed as part of the Good Friday Agreement. If this slow work continues, divisions in communities will continue and repeat themselves.”

- Youth@CLC Member

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Children's Law Centre @childlawcentre.bsky.social · Sep 19

When we spoke to young people for their views on the draft Anti-Poverty Strategy, they were clear that a community response is not enough - the Executive must take meaningful action to lift children and young people out of poverty.

Watch out for our response to the consultation next week.

Draft Anti-Poverty Strategy

“Why do we accept a certain level of poverty? Why is it inevitable? No one should be living in poverty.”

- Youth@CLC Member

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Children's Law Centre @childlawcentre.bsky.social · Sep 18

We asked a group of young people for their views on the draft Anti-Poverty Strategy. They told us it did little to address the stigma surrounding poverty.

Read more in our response to the draft strategy next week.

Draft Anti-Poverty Strategy

“The Anti-Poverty Strategy needs to address the negative stigma associated with poverty. It’s not fair that people are judged or bullied for being in poverty. People need to be accepted and helped regardless of their background.”

- Youth@CLC Member

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Children's Law Centre @childlawcentre.bsky.social · Sep 17

We asked young people for their thoughts on the draft Anti-Poverty Strategy. They were clear - it lacks ambition and detail.

We'll be publishing our response to the draft consultation next week.

Draft Anti-Poverty Strategy

“The strategy is very vague and it feels like the Executive are just trying to cover their tracks for their lack of action.”

- Youth@CLC Member

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Children's Law Centre @childlawcentre.bsky.social · Sep 16

The Children’s Law Centre has expressed support for the National Association of Head Teachers Northern Ireland, following an open letter calling for urgent collaborative action on SEND provision.

Action is needed to address the crisis now and leadership in taking action is critical.

Children's Law Centre @childlawcentre.bsky.social · Sep 12

CLC is supporting children who have been left with no or unsuitable school placements. We again call for action by the NI Executive to address delays in finalising statements and failure to plan for specialist placements.

Read more at childrenslawcentre.org.uk/placement_cr...

News

Back to School, Back to Crisis for Children with Additional Needs

CLC CALLS FOR ACTION

The Children’s Law Centre is once again encountering a surge of pupils without suitable school placements as the new school year begins.

“For many years, disabled children have been treated like second class citizens as regards school placement, ranging from unsuitable placement or delayed placement to no placement at all”

- Rachel Hogan, SEND Specialist Legal Adviser at CLC

Children's Law Centre @childlawcentre.bsky.social · Sep 11

The NI Executive needs to end the deepening school placements crisis, ensuring the Education Authority and other public bodies work collaboratively to stabilise the special education system and ensure every child can fulfil their right to an effective education.

Read more at buff.ly/iXxf36m

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Children's Law Centre @childlawcentre.bsky.social · Sep 10

CLC joined a wide range of organisations today in signing a letter that calls for the reinstatement of guidance for schools on supporting trans young people in education.

Education Unions, Children's Rights Groups and
LGBTQIA+ Organisations
call on Education Minister to Reinstate Trans Guidance
We the undersigned LGBTQIA+ charities, human rights organisations and education unions are disappointed and concerned by the Education Minister's decision to remove guidance which provided information to schools in relation to supporting transgender and gender diverse pupils.
Transgender young people in school are entitled to compassion, acceptance and support. The removal of guidance for supporting these young people, with no replacement guidance, is a step back for those young people struggling in school, as well as their parents and teachers seeking to support them.

The previous guidance from the Education Authority was non-statutory and non-binding, meaning schools already had scope to support pupils in a manner that suited the individual school.
It is vital that schools are an inclusive, welcoming and empowering space for all pupils. This decision, taken without any meaningful consultation with the children and young people it will impact upon, is contrary to that goal.

The Department's own 2017 research identified that appropriate access to toilets, changing facilities, and flexibility with uniform policies were key issues trans young people faced, and the key issues that caused two thirds of LGBT pupils to not feel supported in schools.
The Minister has clearly misunderstood that to consider children's best interests is to consider the best interests of each individual child, including children and young people who are developing their own understanding of their identity.

We are in no doubt that his decision will have direct consequences for pupils. It will affect their ability to fully participate in school life, to thrive in their educational environment, and will have knock-on impacts on other services including CAMHS.
The Minister has a responsibility to prioritise the education and wellbeing of all pupils over stoking political culture wars. We call on him to reinstate this guidance and to meaningfully engage with the young people, parents and school staff this directly affects.

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Children's Law Centre @childlawcentre.bsky.social · Sep 10

The annual school placements crisis is not new, but the harmful impact on children and families is deepening. Urgent, systemic action is needed to ensure that every child with SEND can access their right to education without delay, disruption, or discrimination.

Read more at buff.ly/iXxf36m

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