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am delighted to introduce this celebratory book. It tells the story of the first 10 years of TreeHouse in a series of landmark events and pictures. TreeHouse started life as the inspiration of two mothers whose sons had been recently diagnosed with autism. In just one decade it has become the UK’s national charity for autism education. Like any good story, TreeHouse’s narrative has several themes – a central cast of brave and resourceful characters, a series of battles against setbacks, some twists of plot and unexpected events. At the heart is a quest to transform the opportunities for children with autism – starting with a small group of children in a single school and extending this to all children with autism, nationwide. As the founding parents learned in their initial research, children with autism can achieve a great deal when they are given the appropriate education. Their families can thrive and look positively to the future when they are given the right levels of support. Yet because too often the right education is not available, and families are not given the breaks and entitlements that they need, those affected by autism experience the world as a hostile, depressing and exhausting place. From the outset, the TreeHouse families refused to accept this view of their fate. Their unwillingness to give in, and their desire to ‘raise the bar’ of expectations about what society should and can offer children with autism – and about what the children can achieve – has characterised the TreeHouse spirit over the past 10 years. It is this spirit that has enabled TreeHouse as an organisation not just to survive but actively to grow and expand its remit. And it has encouraged countless supporters, partners, families and politicians to share the goal that remains so important and so central to our vision: to transform through education the lives of children with autism and the lives of their families.
Lord Tim Clement-Jones, CBE Chair of the Trustees
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ou are planning a holiday to Paris and arrive in Amsterdam. The holiday was not cancelled, just different! This is a story often used to help parents see the positive within their child after receiving a diagnosis of autism. Autism however, is a life-long disability. Your lives have changed forever. Professionals say that the impact of a child’s diagnosis on a parent is often similar to the impact of losing a child. And whilst the unbearable feelings felt by so many of us of pain, loss, anger and confusion eventually subside, they are frequently replaced by anger at a system that seemingly devalues you and your child, a system that cannot cope with the sheer numbers of children with autism, a system that has a total lack of understanding of your situation and your child’s needs. Your child is isolated by autism and you too feel very alone. There is no medical intervention to help and so after diagnosis, even when early, there is very little to give you hope. When the two of us met in January 1997 we wanted a better answer than what was being offered to our children. Waiting around was not an option. All research indicated that early intervention was crucial and, as our children somehow hadn’t ‘got osmosis’ (the thing that enables other children to copy and mimic everything around them), teaching them intensively how to copy was a first critical skill. By the time we met, there were increasing numbers of parents in the UK running home-based Lovaas or Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) programmes. This method of teaching is highly researched; it is intensive, structured and very consistent. We could have joined them but we wanted our children to attend a school, with all the support structures and benefits that that can deliver. ABA schools existed in the States, why not here? We enlisted more like-minded parents and together proved to be a very strong and complementary founding group with a vision not only to help our own children on their life journey, but others like them.
When those who come after us as trustees in 20 or 30 years’ time pause to look back at the history of TreeHouse, it will not be the first one or two years that will be the beginning, it will be the first 10 years; the years the school was founded, the years we developed our national programme, the moment when we knew we owned our own land and of course 2008: the year our children first walked through the doors of our wonderful new building. Now we are turning the page and starting a new chapter. But we must not forget that despite all of the success of the first 10 years – the 54 children being taught by a highly trained and committed teaching staff; the millions of pounds our fundraising team has raised; the high profile and critical work of our national development team; the 120 people we have working for us – we must not forget that we are still at the beginning. As the founders of TreeHouse we know that TreeHouse must do more and it will do more because, despite our successes, we are merely scratching the surface of what must be achieved for children with autism. As parents we look to society and to the government to do more. To do more because TreeHouse will find more solutions, more answers, more ways through education to enhance the life of children with autism and the lives of their families.
Katharine Doré & Karen Edwards Founders of TreeHouse
This book maps an outline of the first 10 years of the TreeHouse journey. Something made possible only by the coming together of all those who have helped to grow and move this vision forward: children, parents, staff, volunteers, advisors, donors and sponsors. The beginning of our TreeHouse journey seems a long way off now although the strong bonds of the founding parents remain as firm as ever.
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1997
‘Frank Skinner launched an appeal… for autistic children’ Ham & High 18 July 1997
‘In all things, the beginning is the most important part…’ Plato
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n the autumn of 1996 Katharine Doré’s son Toby was diagnosed with autism. Realising that Toby will need very specialist help to reach his potential in life, Katharine visits her Local Educational Authority to learn that there is no school place available for children like Toby. She is told that she has to find him a school place as there is no such provision available locally.
‘It seemed to me the answer was to start a school. You start with a clean piece of paper and you think ‘what do we need to get this show on?’ And you make a list and you do it somehow.’ Katharine Doré, TreeHouse founding parent
Thinking over the advice she had been given by the LEA ‘go and find a place and come back and see us’ it strikes Katharine that the answer to ‘find a school place’ is going to mean ‘start a school!’ Katharine visits Toby’s consultant at the Royal Free Hospital, Andrew Lloyd Evans, and asks if there is another parent in North London in a similar position – he points at his filing cabinets and says ‘how many would you like?’
Next comes the fundraising. Katharine sets about engaging local and national press and celebrity supporters. TreeHouse’s launch at Hamiltons gallery is a star-studded affair, with the parents telling their guests ‘the groundbreaking work of TreeHouse is of national significance. It will change the face of education for children with autism in the UK in the next 10 years.’
Wed 9 July 1997 h TreeHouse launc at Hamiltons Gallery
And so, in 1997, the TreeHouse Pilot Project opens in a room in the Royal Free Hospital.
On meeting Karen Edwards in early 1997, Katharine says ‘We’re going to start a school for our kids and those like them’ and the everresourceful Karen replies ‘OK let’s do it’. TreeHouse is born. They put the word out to other parents and soon meet Alex and Richard Hatter, parents of James, and Carey and Sid Wells, parents of Francesca. The parents spend many hours and travel far and wide researching this new world of autism. One approach keeps coming up: Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). Karen reads about its success in Norway and the US. Katharine flies to the States and witnesses first hand how ABA is unlocking the potential in children with autism. The Hatters have already employed Kevin Conallen, qualified and experienced in ABA, to work with James.
Toby’s story The Daily Telegraph Tues 1 July 1997 8
In the UK, ABA is being used in home programmes but no-one is offering this approach in a school setting. Rather than accept the situation, the parents decide to start a school themselves. Top of the endless shopping list is someone who can help to develop a programme for the pupils, based on the principles of ABA. Kevin Conallen steps in to become TreeHouse School’s first staff member. Weekly meetings begin with Karen, Katharine, Peter Carroll, Sonny’s dad, and Virginia Bovell, Danny’s mum. Sid and Carey Wells, Alex and Richard Hatter and Nick Hornby, Danny’s dad, all contribute to the huge task ahead. Karen is appointed the first Chair of TreeHouse Trustees.
Kevin Conallen, TreeHouse School’s first member of staff 9
1998 1999 At the C ora Family C m ampus w it Christin e & Simo h n (top lef t
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998 brings the first of TreeHouse’s many moves, first to a room in Swiss Cottage Library and then, as the number of pupils rises to 8, to a town house in nearby Huson Close.
Professor Doug Greer, a leading ABA educationalist from the University of Columbia, New York, and colleague Dolleen Keohane, move to the UK to work full-time at TreeHouse. They stay for most of the first year, working with Kevin Conallen, new staff and the school’s first pupils.
& right)
At the start of TreeHouse’s second academic year, the founders advertise for a Director of Development. They find the perfect candidate in Christine Asbury. Word starts to get out about the pioneering young school. The founders of what became Jigsaw School approach TreeHouse for advice on how to get started – the first example of what will develop into TreeHouse consultancy. Interest in TreeHouse’s success re-affirms what its founders already know: there is a huge shortfall in educational provision for children with autism in the UK. The Parents Autism Campaign for Education (PACE) is established by the TreeHouse founders as a registered charity independent of TreeHouse, but closely affiliated. PACE has the objective of harnessing the drive of parents to campaign for better educational provision for their children nationwide. During the year, Richard Katz takes up the reins as Chair of the TreeHouse Trustees.
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nother year and another move for TreeHouse. Everyone is learning fast and it is still very much a case of ‘all hands on deck’.
Christine Asbury becomes Chief Executive and Simon Eccles joins TreeHouse to lead the school into the next phase. TreeHouse is growing in size and in stature. The number of pupils rises to 10 and the new school premises, portacabins on the Coram Family Campus, are officially opened by Cherie Booth QC. 1999 sees the parliamentary launch of PACE, which like TreeHouse, is also starting to make a name for itself.
Prof Doug Greer joins us from the University of Columbia 10
‘Virginia Bovell, wife of writer Nick Hornby, speaks for the first time about her campaign to educate their autistic son Danny.’ The Express Tues 27 April 1999
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2000 2001 L
eading from the front, TreeHouse introduces the UK’s first course to accredit autism practitioners working in the field of ABA and, as a school, achieves Autism Accreditation for the first time. The year doesn’t pass without another move either, this time to another temporary building on the same site. Pupil numbers reach 25. This is also the year that the current Chair of Trustees, Lord Tim Clement-Jones, takes up office at TreeHouse. Lord Clement-Jones is already well-known in the autism world for his work on the All Party Parliamentary Group on Autism.
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y 2000, TreeHouse has achieved a level of stability. The number of pupils continues to rise, from 15 to 20.
It is through the ever-resourceful parent network that TreeHouse finds out about some land in Muswell Hill. Determined to continue growing the school, TreeHouse manages to secure an option to buy it. This is the first step on the road to building the National Centre for Autism Education. As TreeHouse continues to consolidate its own work, the demand to help others to follow its inspiring example continues. TreeHouse provides consultancy to Rainbow, another parentfounded school for children with autism. TreeHouse also makes links with other fledgling schools in the North West of England and in Ireland.
n of o i t i d e t Firs ews N e s u o H the Tree 12
The need for extra funds to pay for the vital services that TreeHouse is offering above and beyond those covered by fees is greater than ever. A group of leading authors all donate a short story published in Speaking with the Angel, an anthology edited by Nick Hornby, Danny’s dad. The proceeds support TreeHouse’s fundraising effort, and the launch involves a musical event at Hammersmith Palais.
‘TreeHouse is a good news story for all those who are involved in the education of children with autism. Most of all, it is a happy place where this group of children can learn and develop the skills they need for life.’ Lord Clement-Jones – Ham & High
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2002 2003 I
nterest in TreeHouse continues to grow and in 2002, the school is visited by The Princess Royal. TreeHouse is named ‘Education and Training Charity of the Year’ at the Charity Awards and is commended for ‘leading by example’. The school receives a positive inspection from OFSTED. Within a few years, the founding parents have built their own viable school for children with autism.
‘Welcome to Haringey’ Chair of the Haringey Planning Committee
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bumper year for TreeHouse, featuring a warm welcome from Haringey Council’s Planning Committee: they give planning permission for TreeHouse to build on the land in Muswell Hill. The site has been purchased thanks to the kind donations of a number of TreeHouse supporters. In the same week, TreeHouse is the lucky beneficiary of funds raised at the October Club Dinner, attended by some of the biggest names in the City. The proceeds of the evening reach almost half a million pounds.
TreeHouse continues to be instrumental in promoting good autism practice more widely in the UK, sharing the experiences at TreeHouse so that others can benefit. As part of the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) Autism Working Group, through PACE, TreeHouse also contributes to the production of government guidance on Autism Good Practice.
In the school, Neil Martin becomes TreeHouse’s first permanent, UK-based Senior Behaviour Analyst. Virginia Bovell becomes a member of the Ministerial Special Schools Working Group, established to define the future role of special schools. PACE contributes to the government-sponsored Early Support pack for parents of children with autism, designed to support families through the first years of their children’s lives. At the Labour Party Conference, TreeHouse joins forces with the National Autistic Society to represent the autism education movement and a speech by Nick Hornby attracts a large media audience.
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The story so far … from the Annua l Report 2002
g for Original drawin re for t n e C l a n io t a N the n Autism Educatio
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2004 2005 P
upil numbers reach 50. Children from the secondary classes spend a night away from home at the local Scout Park: for some pupils it is the first night they have ever had away from their parents.
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reeHouse packs for the biggest move yet, to its new home in Muswell Hill. It’s a seamless operation, thanks to the organisational skills of TreeHouse staff and a wide team of volunteers. Gill Bierschenk joins as new Headteacher. As TreeHouse gets older, so do the pupils. The children of the founding parents are reaching secondary school age and autumn sees the opening of TreeHouse’s secondary classes.
On th
e mov
e aga
in!
TreeHouse staff are eager to follow the latest developments in autism education and school designs, and make a visit to the US to observe good practice there.
TreeHouse sets its sights on making the National Centre for Autism Education a reality. It secures a significant investment from the government–backed Futurebuilders fund. November sees the launch of the Ambitious about Autism appeal to raise the remaining £6.5 million needed to complete the build.
‘TreeHouse and PACE are delighted to have concluded a merger that will build on the achievements of both charities in addressing the needs of children and families affected by autism.’ The TreeHouse Trust/PACE merger – a briefing
TreeHouse merges with PACE, consolidating its role in influencing government and supporting parents nationwide. The publication of the PACE Handbook allows TreeHouse to disseminate the principles of constructive campaigning for improved autism services to a wider audience.
TreeHouse and the National Autistic Society jointly establish ‘Autism Counts!’ – the first internet-based autism campaign to coincide with the General Election. This leads to a major boost in the number of MPs supporting the work of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Autism (APPGA), with over half the total number of parliamentarians signed up to the APPGA Manifesto.
Gill arrives in April 2004 16
Our first summer fair 17
2006 2007 Lord Adonis tells the press, ‘It’s the needs of the child that come first and the right of their parents to exercise choice to ensure that those needs are properly met.’ Schools Minister, Lord Adonis
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T
With the Futurebuilders funding in place, TreeHouse is able to appoint Linda Redford to the key post of Director of National Development.
TreeHouse starts the year with 54 pupils and 120 members of staff across the organisation. The DfES gives the school permission to expand to 65 pupils in its temporary building, in advance of completion of the permanent National Centre for Autism Education.
reeHouse is chosen by Schools Minister, Lord Adonis, and Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Ed Balls MP, to launch the Joint Review into Services for Disabled Children. Lord Adonis tells the press, ‘It’s the needs of the child that come first and the right of their parents to exercise choice to ensure that those needs are properly met’.
By now, TreeHouse is receiving hundreds of phone calls and emails every year from parents of children with autism, asking for information, advice and support on different aspects of autism education. TreeHouse launches a new Parent Support Project. Working with 10 parent groups across England who are devising their own local campaigns, it is based on the principles of constructive campaigning. In partnership with the Disability Rights Commission and the National Autistic Society, TreeHouse holds fringe events focusing on autism education at all three party conferences. Christine Asbury leaves TreeHouse and Ian Wylie is appointed as new Chief Executive.
All roads lead to TreeHouse, or so it seems as there is a succession of visitors to the organisation. As well as high profile visitors such as the Commissioner for Children, Sir Al Aynsley-Green and MPs and Peers, TreeHouse regularly hosts tours for parents and professionals from the UK and all over the world. This year sees the launch of the new and improved TreeHouse website – brought about due to the ever increasing number of visits to the site. There will be well in excess of 100,000 visits to the TreeHouse website in 2007.
Lord Adonis and Ed Balls launch the Joint Review at TreeHouse
‘TreeHouse has given (Joseph) the building blocks of how to learn and how to enjoy learning… this has been a huge breakthrough.’ Joseph’s father – FT Weekend 17/18 Feb 2007
This year also sees our local football team Arsenal select TreeHouse as their charity of the season for 2007/08. And finally, a landmark moment as construction starts on TreeHouse’s first ever permanent home; our National Centre for Autism Education. TreeHouse’s founding parents always wanted to be able to change the world for all children with autism, and their families. The new centre, due for completion early in summer 2008, will help TreeHouse do just this.
Ian Wylie appointed new Chief Executive
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reeHouse prepares to celebrate its 10th birthday and a decade of progress in education for children with autism.
www.tre
ehouse.o
rg.uk
Sir Al and pupils on the playground slide 19
Our vision‌ to transform through education the lives of children with autism and the lives of their families.
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s this book goes to press, the bulldozers have levelled the ground and the pile-drivers have been pounding at what will be the foundations for the new National Centre for Autism Education.
A lot of emphasis has inevitably been placed on the building. The lack of a permanent home has consumed a huge amount of energy in the first 10 years of TreeHouse. Time, effort, and financial expenditure have been required to research, plan and implement a series of premises moves. So we are all looking forward to the time when – secure in our new base – our energies will be consumed 100% by our vision: to transform through education the lives of children with autism and the lives of their families.
TreeHouse began with a philosophy and a belief, that every child is unique and equally important and that, through education, people with autism can lead happy, active and fulfilled lives. We hope that 10 years on TreeHouse remains true to these founding principles and that in another decade they will be self-evidently true. We will only succeed if everyone connected with us continues in whatever way they can to contribute to the work of TreeHouse.
Ian Wylie, Chief Executive
The building is an enormous achievement. It will be a place where researchers and practitioners, parents and policy-makers come together to discuss the realities of teaching children with autism. We will build the expertise that is necessary to continually improve practice, and identify the concrete solutions that are needed to address the massive gap between what is needed and what is available. We will also encourage children and young people with autism, however severe their communication difficulties, to participate fully in school and community life, and make their own choices in life, as well as to express their own perspectives and aspirations. It is a very great privilege to join TreeHouse at such an exciting time in its development. We will need to ensure that the spirit of aspiration that got us this far will continue to drive us forward. There is still an enormous amount to learn from the children, families and from our professional partners in autism education. There remain people who need to be persuaded of the significance of the challenge posed by autism, the positive scope for intervening early and effectively, and the transformational effect this can have for individuals, families and society as a whole. The next decade will see us redoubling our efforts to develop and improve our own services, and influence others to do the same, because there is still so much to learn and so much to do.
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One workman visited TreeHouse to equip our dentist room and enjoyed his day so much, he
Ten years of TreeHouse, thousands of acts of generosity…
donated his fee
TreeHouse would not exist, never mind be the successful organisation that it is today, were it not for our supporters. There are too many individuals, companies and trusts to mention in this limited space, but here are some examples of the extraordinary ways that some of our many, very special friends have helped TreeHouse. To all of you, we give our heartfelt thanks.
One premiership football club donated a humble laminator in 1997, and made TreeHouse its
charity of the season in 2007!
Local supporters have made over 500 jars of jam to be sold in aid of TreeHouse Over 200 donors believed in the founding parents and donated
nearly £100,000 in our first year of existence
146 schools have raised funds for TreeHouse and many have enjoyed assemblies to learn about autism
Thousands of supporters have made tax effective donations to TreeHouse,
One company trust donated £1 million, to fund the training centre a spectacular gift of
in our National Centre for Autism Education Later in 2007, 240 drivers will take part in a rally and drive over 380,000 kilometres to raise funds for TreeHouse
enabling us to reclaim over a quarter of a million pounds from the tax man!
One supporter donated the film rights to his book, How To Be Good
953 donors have visited TreeHouse, to see first hand
One statutory funder
to paint murals, clean play equipment, make teaching resources and help the children grow vegetables
Four donors donated a total of £1.1 million which enabled TreeHouse to buy a piece of land, on which to build our first
believed in our idea to provide an innovative Parents Support Project, and gave £220,000 to enable TreeHouse to support parents across the country
Two students travelled around the world, using 80 different modes of transport, to raise sponsorship for TreeHouse
Nearly 11.5 million people have called the 118 111 directory enquiry service raising 1p for TreeHouse from each call
permanent home
12 authors wrote stories for the book Speaking with the Angel Nearly 300,000 people across the world have bought copies
of Speaking with the Angel
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raised funds for TreeHouse
One company released a single from one of its adverts, to raise funds for TreeHouse
years
how their support has made a difference
volunteers have donated a total of 268 days
Corporate
Individuals have run a total of 1,200 kilometres (just over the length of the United Kingdom!) through taking part in sponsored marathons and runs for TreeHouse
680 people have attended film premiere events that have
One trust funded our very first minibus, then funded our first PE Teacher, and is now supporting a Speech and Language Therapist over three
People have taken part in Tandem for TreeHouse, falling a total of 200,000 metres through the sky Guests at one ga la dinner raised over £50 0,000 for TreeHouse
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Thank you
TalkTalk is thrilled to congratulate TreeHouse on its tenth birthday. Many happy returns!
TreeHouse would like to thank so many people who have contributed time, commitment, resources and energy to making the first 10 years such a great success. It is impossible to list everyone here. But there are some people who need a special mention. The founding parents – without whom TreeHouse would not exist Trustees – past and present Judith Barnard, Keith Bovair, Virginia Bovell, Tristia Clarke, Lord Tim Clement-Jones, Clare Coombe-Tennant, Katharine Doré, Karen Edwards, Bruce Fraser, Richard Katz, Simon Lewis, Jonathan Meth, Matthew Punshon, Rosie Seth-Smith, Rowie Shaw, Christine Swabey, Richard Townley, and Sid Wells Chief Executives – past and present Christine Asbury and Ian Wylie Members of the current Executive Leadership Team Martin Atkinson, Susan Beck, Gill Bierschenk and Linda Redford Our advisors and honorary committee members – past and present Professor Anthony Bailey, Steve Broach, Professor Tony Charman, Rodney Clark OBE, Philip Cullum, Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, Diana Courtney, Professor Richard Hastings, Julia Hobsbawm, Professor Patricia Howlin, Robert Hubbard OBE, Jane Hurry, Cris Lewis, Dr Oliver Mudford, Dr James Partridge, Nick Peacey, Professor Bob Remington, Anne Sofer, Dr Cathy Tissot, Su Thomas, Hilarie Williams, Mandy Williams, Gaby Zein All staff at TreeHouse, both past and present Volunteers who have given up their time to help TreeHouse in a whole range of ways All of the TreeHouse parents past and present And of course finally a big thank you to the children, from whom we learn so much
From The Carphone Warehouse
www.treehouse.org.uk