The benefits of a long-term and settled placement in a residential children’s home are clear to see for 15-year-old Danny* as he gets ready to sit his GCSEs and plan for his future knowing he is safe and secure.

Danny lives at Wood Grove, a small children’s home in Colchester. He moved into the home at the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic having previously experience trauma and neglect.

While for many children and young people, moving to a new home at such a time could have proved to be an extraordinary challenge, in some ways it benefitted Danny as it was an opportunity to have consistent support and build relationships with staff.

He has come a long way since then; at first he might be verbally abusive or break items in the home. But with consistent positive relationship building and boundaries, Danny has really matured. He is doing well at school and predicted to achieve up to four GCSEs, as well as other qualifications.

And with the knowledge that he will live at Wood Grove until he is 18, that safety and security means the Danny feels able to plan for the future with positivity. He is exploring college courses to attend as well as apprenticeships.

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