Children and Young People

Tree Tops Free School - OSF

Empowering SEND students to thrive in Thurrock

Treetops Free School has significantly enhanced its community provisions thanks to Opening School Facilities (OSF) funding. This initiative addresses the unique challenges faced by students and community members with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), providing tailored activities and inclusive environments to foster development and confidence.

The OSF, Department for Education funding, has allowed Treetops Free School in Thurrock to expand its community based sessions to seven days a week and enhancing their SEND provision with new netball, multisport activities, and CrossFit activities.

Who's it for?

Individuals with SEND and additional needs

Prime Objective:

To increase community provision and inclusivity through tailored activities

Second Objective:

To promote skill development and socialisation

The OSF funding has enabled Treetops Free School to extend its operating hours to evenings and weekends, creating opportunities for physical activities and work experience in the café for post-19 learners. This has enhanced socialization and life skills for students, contributing to a more inclusive and supportive community.

new SEND students have engaged in extracurricular sessions

£52,036

awarded to the school across the three years of the project

individuals on average attend each of the new sessions

The Active Essex team has provided crucial administrative support, assistance with documentation, and improved monitoring and evaluation reporting throughout the process, developing a strong and collaborative working relationship with the school.

Going forward the school aims to explore new sports opportunities such as disability cricket and rugby, further widening their offer to students and the local community. Treetops also aim to address ongoing challenges around finding trampoline coaching spaces and want to implement mobile floodlights outdoors to enable year-round enjoyment of activities including throughout the holidays and on weekends to provide low-cost respite provisions for families in the area.

Through their commitment to development, the school are also keen to work with existing local providers to offer sessions to all.

With this funding, our ambition and dream is to make this more than just a school. We want it to be a hub for anything SEN. If we don’t do it, then it's likely no one will.

Anthony Hattam, Headteacher at Treetops Free School

Treetops Free School's dedication to inclusive and diverse activities has had a transformative impact on its students and the wider community, developing and assuring supportive and engaging environments for all to thrive.

Treetops Free School is dedicated to providing specialised education to students with SEN. The Opening Schools Facilities Programme has furthered their offer for individuals with SEND and long-term health conditions within their community.

Stuart Tryhorn, Active Essex Assistant Relationship Manager