SkillsPath Ltd

The easiest way to introduce Tree is by a staff development event. Experienced trainers can provide a training forum tailored to particular needs either for individual or clusters of schools.

The important thing about Tree is that it is not a rigid programme to be followed slavishly this means that the training programme focuses on establishing a consensus around the core qualities and attributes and exploring the philosophy behind them and the programme as a whole. Once staff are confident with the philosophy and general principles of using the qualities and attributes ways can be explored in which these are incorporated into classroom practices and routines, the software can be demonstrated and examples from where Tree has been introduced can be discussed.

Once training is completed students and parents are introduced to Tree. The qualities/attributes are discussed and the mechanisms for recording explained. Schools have explored a number of ways in which this can be done and links can be made through the Tree Partnership to share this information. What is important in this process is explaining how the qualities and attributes will be used not just as a means of assessing progress and achievement but also to guide dialogue within the school Once everyone is confident with the terminology and the software the Tree qualities can be used by staff to identify within their planning what qualities/attributes if any, they will cover within a particular lesson. The process is then very simple with students manually recording any success and imputting this data at an appropriate time. As a particular unit of teaching progresses or at its completion staff can monitor the progress of individuals or the whole group adjusting and targeting their teaching in the light of the feedback that is provided. Headteachers can access the system to obtain data at individual, group, cohort or whole school level.