Overview and Provision 

The Trees Phase supports pupils in Years 7 and 8, providing a dedicated, nurturing space designed to help every child thrive during the important transition from primary to secondary education. With four Year 7 classes and four Year 8 classes, this phase offers a smaller, community-focused environment within the wider school. 

Our pupils benefit from their own dedicated area of the school, where class-based teaching mirrors their primary school experience to ensure a smooth and reassuring transition. We work closely with local primary schools through visits and transition activities, helping each child settle quickly and confidently. 

Learning is fully supported by experienced teaching teams, specialist support staff, and well-resourced classrooms. Our teachers have a strong working knowledge of special educational needs (SEN) and benefit from ongoing professional development (CPD) to continually enhance their practice. 

Pupils enjoy exciting educational visits, free swimming lessons in Year 8, and full participation in whole-school events, ensuring a rich, varied experience that supports both academic and personal growth. 

Approaches to Learning 

Learning in the Trees Phase is adaptive, inclusive, and responsive to individual needs. Interventions are an integral part of our teaching approach, carefully designed and supported by a skilled team of teaching assistants. 

We draw on external agency support and ongoing staff training to ensure our strategies are up-to-date and evidence-informed. Personalised targets are set, monitored, and adjusted to help every pupil make progress at their own pace. 

Our teaching styles are guided by a deep understanding of each child, informed through positive engagement with parents and professionals, Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) reviews, and regular assessment. This collaborative approach ensures that every child receives the right support to achieve their best. 

Pastoral Care and Wellbeing 

Pastoral care is at the heart of everything we do in the Trees Phase. Pupils benefit from an active Safe and Wellbeing Hub, offering emotional and practical support for both pupils and families. 

Our dedicated Home–School Liaison Officer, school counsellor, and Reflection Team work together to provide timely, compassionate support through the Wellbeing Hub. We are proud to place the pupil at the centre of all we do. 

Our House System encourages teamwork, positive relationships, and a sense of belonging, while our House Points and Rewards celebrate effort, achievement, and kindness across all areas of school life. 

Curriculum and Assessment 

The Trees Phase curriculum is based on the National Curriculum, carefully adapted to meet the changing needs of each cohort. We use nationally recognised schemes and content, tailoring them to suit the pace, abilities, and interests of our pupils. 

When pupils join the Trees Phase, we establish a baseline of their skills and understanding across key areas of learning. This allows staff to plan teaching that meets pupils where they are and supports their next steps in progress. 

Throughout the year, teachers capture evidence of learning across all subjects using tools such as Evidence for Learning. This evidence provides a rich picture of each pupil’s development and achievements. Pupil attainment is tracked carefully, and this information is used to inform teaching strategies and curriculum planning, ensuring lessons remain meaningful, challenging, and personalised. 

Learning is enriched through topic-based projects, physical education, PSHE, and RSHE, all adapted to suit the needs of individual pupils. The curriculum promotes healthy lifestyles, encourages digital responsibility, and prepares pupils for a safe, confident, and successful transition to upper school — whether that’s the Hills Phase or Rivers Phase. 

Daily Life 

Pupils in the Trees Phase enjoy a structured yet supportive daily routine. They have their own entrance and exit, ensuring a calm start and end to each day. 

To support focus and wellbeing, pupils benefit from an additional afternoon break, dinners in classrooms, and time for exercise and play at lunchtime. These routines promote independence, community, and a sense of belonging within the school. 

Towards Independence 

We place great emphasis on helping pupils become confident, independent young people. Through life skills lessons, school trips, and whole-school events, pupils develop the resilience and self-awareness needed for their next stage of education. 

Active participation in the School Council empowers pupils to share their voices and contribute to shaping their school community. 

The Trees Phase provides the ideal bridge between primary and upper school — a time for growth, discovery, and independence.