Blog

We’ve Been Rated as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted!

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that our registered children’s homes have been rated by Ofsted, with Borrowdale, Howgills and Bay Tree receiving ‘Outstanding’ and Bowscar Farm receiving a ‘Good’ rating. Over the years, we have created a methodology for developing programs and plans for placements in residential children’s homes.
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What is The Solution to Rising Levels of Knife Crime?

The number of offences involving knives or sharp instruments has increased by 30% since 2011 (Sky News). This rising level of knife crime has whipped the media into a frenzy, with knife crime now described as an ‘epidemic’. Media outlets across the UK are quick to argue that the typical
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Why Do Young People Run Away From Home?

No young person wants to run away from home. Sometimes, however, the situations a vulnerable child faces at home may make their living situation unbearable, leaving them with no choice but to run away. The Children’s Society have recently released a report that investigates the reasons why a child or
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7 Key Findings about Child Exploitation

The Children’s Society’s report Counting Lives explores exactly what is meant by child exploitation. It investigates how children are exploited and how local and national responses need to be made more effective. Below, we have summarised the 7 key findings the Children’s Society believe are vital:   Not all child
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Why is Environmental Engagement Important for Children?

A report by the Children’s Commissioner has concluded that environmental engagement is imperative for children. It was written in Issue 1 of Children’s Insights that the health of the environment remains one of their largest concerns for children. Researchers asked children aged 10 to 17 from 2,400 households what they
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Children Gang Involvement at an All-Time High

27,000 children in England identify as a gang member. Yet, only 6,560 of these children are known by children’s services or youth offending teams. This means that most children associated with gangs remain under the radar. More troubling still is that 34,000 children linked to gangs have been victims to
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Supporting Asylum Seekers in Residential Childcare

The number of refugees across the world is at a record high, with over 65 million people fleeing their homes across the globe. Over half of these refugees are children. (UNHCR, 2018). Although many refugees seek sanctuary in the areas that surround their home country, a much smaller number undertake
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Improving Standard in Children’s Social Care

It’s imperative that standards within children’s social care continue to improve. With high standards, social care provides young people with the tools to build trust with their social workers and move past any trauma they may have experienced. Since the introduction of the 2004 Children Act, local authorities have been
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The Benefits of Outdoor Education on Mental Health

Outdoor education could be a key factor in supporting the UK’s current child mental health crisis. Recent studies have illustrated that outdoor environments provide stress relief, remove children from classroom norms and increase serotonin levels. These factors have a beneficial effect on child mental health in education.   Research carried
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Why Outdoor Education is Crucial to Child Development

Over the years, there have been many studies and research into outdoor education and child development. These studies have concluded that with increased exposure to nature and the outdoors, the learning process is boosted meaning increased creative thinking, motivation and wellbeing. Any classroom-based teacher will vouch that there are often
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How Alternative Education Can Boost a Child’s Confidence

Alternative schools offer an unconventional approach to education. They often take a less formal stance to education when compared to traditional public schools, understanding that in many cases one-size does not fit all. In alternative education, class size tends to be relatively small with a generous pupil: teacher ratios. They
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What’s it Like to Work at a Children’s Home?

Although few careers require more responsibility than working in residential care, very few careers come close to being as rewarding. You get to see troubled children develop into dependable young adults who grow happier and more confident every day. You truly have the ability to change a child’s life. At
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How Crisis Intervention Can Change a Young Person’s Life

Crisis intervention is the process of offering short-term immediate support to individuals who have experienced an event that produces, or has the potential to produce, mental, physical, emotional and behavioural distress. The effects of such events in a child’s life can be varied, but structured intervention can serve to help
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Our Ofsted Registered Children’s Home Has Been Rated ‘Outstanding’

(Again!) A Wilderness Way are thrilled to announce that our Ofsted Registered Children’s Home ‘Borrowdale View’ has received an Ofsted rating of ‘Outstanding’ for the second year in a row. This rating comes under the leadership and management of Hannah, who has worked on developing excellent standards within the children’s
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