Tracy Beaker is a 10 year old child, who was placed in a children's home. Tracy makes new friends along the way, and causes mischief where ever she goes.
When the home all discover the wonders of the film camera in an attempt to get adopted, everyone tries their own method: Tracy films herself with the camera, with the help of Cam, and talks about why she should be adopted, while Louise tries to cry her way into the hearts of the viewer and Lol and Bouncer try and film the torture that they have to endure in the house, as their way of trying to attract foster parents.
Tracy sees Amber's bad girl gang and immediately wants to become a member. Meanwhile, Louise is tired of being a goody-goody and has a fashion and personality makeover, inspired once again by Amber's presence.
A stray dog is roaming the corridors of the DG and Dolly gets upset as he reminds her of a foster family's pet. Seeing Dolly sad, Tracy tries to help by offering to foster ‘Fang' and they pursue him until he's safely locked up in Tracy's bedroom.
Tracy has still not been in contact with Cam after coming back to the DG so Elaine resolves to get them talking with a series of role-play and trust exercises.
Nathan is working on a food project and as well as providing nothing but healthy salads at mealtimes, he bans Dolly from a certain orange drink, making her intent on revenge. Meanwhile, Lol and Bouncer buy lots of unhealthy food from Nathan's website and create a shop in the cellar called "The Sugar Shack".
Adele's mobile is being repaired and soon everyone at the Dumping Ground is tired of taking messages from all her boyfriends. But they soon realise that each boy offers a different range of goodies for them all – and set about getting their guy instated as Adele's ultimate beau.
Fears that he and his brother will be put into different schools lead Lol to ‘bug' a big staff meeting. But he's tricked when Amber gets to the tape before he can, and alarmed when she begins to fuel rumour and suspicion about the subjects discussed by the staff.
Jenny has arranged a trip out for the kids at an Adventure Centre and looks forward to a day of peace and tranquillity at the DG whilst Duke and Nathan accompany the kids into the countryside. When they arrive, it's clear that Gordon the Warden is a bit of a prat.
After a series of experimental art trials (including inscribing the letter ‘D' all over Duke's face and clothes) Tracy is grounded and is instructed to try to cheer Justine up, who is depressed that Louise has left. Meanwhile, Ben is ill, and Lol and Bouncer use this as a perfect opportunity to play with his games.
It's Louise's last day at the DG, as she's going to be fostered by the Morris family. Sorting out her belongings, she tries to put a brave face on her worries about leaving the DG, her friends and especially Justine. And things look up for Amber as she finds a couple who share her enthusiasm for motorbikes and mayhem.
Life at the Dumping Ground continues without Tracy who is on holiday with Cam. However life isn't great at the Littlewood home. Justine is reminded of how badly her dad let her down in the past when she is forced to move out of her room to make way for her cousin John and his dog Bruce who are moving in with them. Justine returns to the DG where she hopes to find security, but gets more than she bargained for when she discovers she is sharing a room with new girl Rebecca.
Strange belongings are going missing in the DG. Who is the crook? Is it Lol who is trying to get used to life without Bouncer? Or Justine and Rebecca who would do anything to set the other up? Or Wolfie who looks like he's had enough and is packing a bag to leave the DG for good?
Chantal leaves with her Dad, creating a huge split for the Wellard threesome. Elaine brokers a meeting between the stubborn Justine and her Dad - but Justine feels forced out by her cousin John and they get nowhere.
Elaine runs an Open Day at the DG. Roxy aims to cause havoc with her sidekick Rio, but he proves an unwilling partner - even donning a clean shirt to impress potential new parents. Layla and Wolfie try to free Mike's free-range pig! The day ends in chaos but nothing prepares them for the shock return of Tracy Beaker to the Dumping Ground. Tracy has decided that she can't live with Cam anymore because Cam wants her new boyfriend Gary to move in with them.
Something very weird is happening at the Dumping Ground - there is mysterious writing on the wall, toys coming to life and kids being locked up. Could it have anything to do with the new arrival Milly? Or is it the voodoo mask the boys have found in the attic?
Jackie returns to the DG apprantly injured. She doesn't seem very happy due to the arrival of her Grandpa's best friend, Flying Freddie Murpher and Tracy tries to find out what's wrong. Meanwhile Crash isn't very happy after receiving a letter from his dad.
Elaine transforms herself into a chic, orderly professional woman. Ditsy Alice arrives at the DG and Bouncer offers to stand in as Marco's Mum on Mothering Sunday.
Tracy gets a knock to her head and life at the DG is turned on its head with the adults behaving as their charges would, for one whole day of havoc at the DG. Nothing is the same - even Milly has an attitude. Tracy gets more than she bargains for when she wakes up with a conscience about Cam.
When the kids find stacks of cheques made out to Wolfie, a major competition breaks out as the kids try to wheedle the cash out of him. When Wolfie finds out he's devastated but eventually decides to splash the cash on something fab for the DG. Bouncer starts inventing reasons for him to stay at the DG and help out - he's finding life at the halfway house a bit lonely.
Shelley returns to the DG and is dismayed at the bad behaviour going on. She insists that the kids spend the day thinking about their bad behaviour - boredom turns to fantasy as the kids imagine how they'd get their own back on the adults, as they star in their favourite films.
Alice and Layla attempt to find a home for a stray dog, while Tracy writes an article on life at the DG that shows Cam just how much she enjoys living there. The kids are horrified when their dream foster parents decide to take the dog home instead of one of them.
Someone has 'iced' poor Elaine. Shelley is furious and demands the culprit owns up - but no one does. The kids have an hour to work out 'whodunit'.
Crash has reluctantly agreed to meet his dad. After a bumpy start the reunion goes well - maybe his dad has changed after all. However his dad takes things a step too far when he starts dictating their future together. This is too much for Crash and he tells his dad as much. His dad is sad but proud of his son who has managed to take control of his life. Crash decides to stay at the DG for now but there is a glimmer of hope that their relationship isn't beyond repair.
Shelley's brief time at the DG is up. The kids have to pull out all the stops when Shelley and Elaine interview for a new head careworker. But who is the ideal person for the job? Perhaps the answer has been under their noses all along.
When Mike introduces Bouncer as the new DG chef, the kids are thrilled - until he turns Jamie Oliver on them and produces manky 'macrobiotic' health food. The lack of additives in their diet has a dramatic effect on their behaviour - Rio starts doing yoga which is more than Roxy can cope with.