Thank you for the interest you have shown in our centre, Aldine House Secure Children’s Home in Sheffield, and the young people there, in the article “Teaching in a secure unit” (April 30).

The article says that “contact with ex-residents is banned”. This is not the case generally - it was a statement made in relation to one young person who was transferred to the adult prison system after an extensive period of time in our care.

It is common practice at Aldine House that once young people leave us we offer a number of outreach visits to the young person in their new placement. We also have a dedicated resettlement manager.

It is very common that young people keep in telephone and letter contact for a periods of time once they have left. This is something that we pride ourselves in and has been highlighted as good practice in our recent Ofsted inspections.

This approach is designed to ensure young people are able to maintain some continuity, feel supported in their transition and offers them comfort of a positive ending to relationships which they have build up while at Aldine House.

Kerry Hague, Centre manager; Liz O’Carroll, Head of education, Aldine House, Dore, Sheffield.