Welcome to Treetops!

At Longsands School, we believe every child deserves to feel happy, supported and successful in their learning. Treetops is our specialist provision that supports pupils with additional learning needs while keeping them connected to our mainstream school community.

The Treetops class has up to six pupils from Year 1 to Year 6, some of whom have a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The class is supported by a part-time teacher, two experienced teaching assistants (TA3 and TA2), and our SENDCo, who oversees the pupils’ individual needs and progress.

Although pupils spend part of their day in Treetops, they remain an important part of their mainstream class. Each morning they register with their class and join their classmates for playtime. At the end of the day they return to their class for activities such as story time or shared learning. Many pupils also join their class for lessons such as PE, Music and Art, giving them opportunities to learn alongside their peers and build friendships.

Learning in Treetops is carefully planned around each child’s needs. We use the EQUALS Curriculum, which is a developmentally appropriate curriculum. This curriculum focuses on the whole child, allowing staff to teach at a pace that suits each pupil and build strong routines that help children feel safe and confident in their learning. Rather than simply adapting the mainstream curriculum, it provides a different approach that better supports each child’s developmental stage.

Alongside this, we also use a Sensory Curriculum. This supports children who benefit from sensory-based learning, including pupils with ASD, ADHD, SEMH, PMLD or other learning difficulties. Activities include sensory exploration, messy play, and practical experiences that help children learn through doing. Communication is supported through Makaton and core words, helping pupils develop language and express their needs.

Our goal at Longsands Community Primary School is to help every child develop confidence, independence and a love of learning. In Treetops, adults work closely with pupils to support their personal development, communication and engagement, helping them grow and succeed in a way that is right for them.

Treetops