A SPECIAL school made the finals of a national awards ceremony in recognition of its hard work.

Treetops School, in Buxton Road, Grays, was shortlisted for the Times Educational Supplement’s Schools Awards 2017.

The school, which caters for children and young people who experience moderate learning difficulties, was nominated in the Alternative Provision School of the Year.

The award was open to any type of standalone alternative provision which includes schools for students with special educational needs or emotional and behavioural difficulties, and pupil referral units.

Treetops came in the final eight out of hundreds of schools across the country.

Four members of staff attended the TES Awards event at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane last Friday evening.

The event was hosted by Julian Clary and Justine Greening, the Secretary of State for Education, made a speech thanking teaching staff for their hard work and dedication.

She added that teachers are among the first celebrities for children and so therefore it is right to celebrate and recognise their hard work and commitment.

Assistant head teacher Angela Davies said: “Treetops School was extremely pleased to have been shortlisted as one of the final eight schools in the Alternative Provision category.

“It’s testament to the hard work and dedication of staff that we have been judged consistently outstanding by Ofsted.

“We already believe that we are one of the best special schools in the country and being nationally recognised by the TES helps to justify this belief.

“All our students and staff are proud to belong to this community and being shortlisted for our good practice makes us even more determined to try and make the experience of our pupils and other young people with Special Educational Needs throughout Thurrock the best that it can be.”