The Tree House International

What The Tree House International does

The Tree House International is a private, for-profit special-needs school headquartered in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, Sri Lanka, founded in 2020 by Dr Anton James and co-directed by Ms Chrystal Honsaker. It operates as Sri Lanka's only international school exclusively dedicated to students with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, sensory processing difficulties, intellectual disabilities, and other neurodevelopmental disorders. The core technology is Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) combined with sensory integration, occupational therapy, speech therapy, CBT, and physiotherapy, delivered through an Individualised Education Programme (IEP) built on the UK-approved Functional Skills qualification (GCSE-equivalent). Teaching is delivered in one-to-one sessions and small groups, supervised by Sri Lanka's only Chartered Behavioural Psychologist, Chartered Educational Assessor, Board Certified Behaviour Analysts, and Chartered Scientist Educational.

The business operates multiple revenue streams: Day School tuition at LKR 500,000/month for international students and LKR 400,000/month for Sri Lankan students (9:30 AM-2:30 PM), Afternoon School at LKR 5,000/hour (3:00-5:00 PM), IBT certification training at LKR 130,000 total, the IBA Behaviour Analyst certification programme, consultations and assessments with Dr James, and parent workshops (mostly free). The school serves a customer base that is 80% international families relocating to Sri Lanka, with scholarships provided to local families. Distribution is sales-led through direct admissions, supported by word-of-mouth referrals and a presence on Instagram, Facebook, and the company website. The organisation also operates Merak, a wholly-owned charity arm focused on autism awareness and environmental sustainability, which is pursuing a Guinness World Record attempt in May 2026 and has partnerships with Parley for the Oceans and Villa College in the Maldives. Strategic partnerships include exclusive IBAO approval as Sri Lanka's only IBT/IBA training provider, TVEC pre-approval for the IBA programme, and ongoing research collaborations with regional universities and behavioural science institutions.

Name

The Tree House International

Legal name

The Tree House International

Website

https://thetreehouseinternational.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Tree House International is a private special-needs school in Dehiwala, Sri Lanka, serving children with autism, ADHD, and neurodevelopmental disorders through ABA-based individualised education. Founded in 2020, it is the country's only international school exclusively for special needs students, drawing 80% of enrolments from overseas families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Needs Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

IEP/504 Planning, Case Management & Compliance (EDAJAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Special Education Evaluation & Assessment (Psychoeducational, Speech/Language, OT/PT) (EDAJAKAA), International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

Keywords

• Special needs education
• Applied behaviour analysis
• Autism school programmes
• Behaviour therapist training
• Sensory integration therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Dehiwala

HQ country

Sri Lanka

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Day School Tuition: Full-day educational programme from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM providing holistic education integrating academics, therapy, and life skills. Students born overseas pay LKR 500,000 per month; students born in Sri Lanka pay LKR 400,000 per month.
2. Afternoon School Tuition: Afternoon programme from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM providing individualised support through one-to-one teaching and small group sessions. Priced at LKR 5,000 per hour (LKR 10,000 per day) with monthly fees calculated based on school days.
3. Behaviour Therapist Training (IBT): International Behaviour Therapist certification training programme approved by IBAO. Fee is LKR 130,000 total with instalment options (50% downpayment, 25% balance in two instalments).
4. Behaviour Analyst Training (IBA): First-ever Behaviour Analyst Certification Programme in Sri Lanka, pre-approved by TVEC and IBAO, offering dual qualification with National/Higher National Diploma and IBA certification.
5. Consultations & Assessments: Consultations and assessments with Dr Anton James covering autism, ADHD, sensory processing difficulties, intellectual disabilities, specific learning difficulties, IQ testing, and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
6. Parent Training & Workshops: Workshops covering behaviour management, sensory integration, picky eating, compliance, language and communication, reinforcement, self-help skills. Most workshops are free.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Tree House International is Sri Lanka's only international school exclusively dedicated to students with special needs, providing individualised education through Day School (9:30 AM-2:30 PM) and Afternoon School (3:00-5:00 PM) programmes. The school delivers one-to-one and small-group teaching using Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), sensory integration, speech therapy, behaviour therapy, and occupational therapy, leading to UK Functional Skills qualifications equivalent to GCSE. It also offers IBT and IBA professional certification training programmes and diagnostic consultations with a Chartered Behavioural Psychologist.

Product overview

The Tree House International offers a suite of educational and therapeutic services for children with special needs. The core offerings are the Day School (full-day programme, 9:30 AM-2:30 PM) and Afternoon School (after-school programme, 3:00-5:00 PM), both delivering individualised education through one-to-one sessions and small groups. Supporting services include Sensory Integration, Speech Therapy, and Behaviour Therapy, along with professional training programmes for behaviour therapists (IBT/IBA certification). The charity arm MERAK extends the school's mission through autism awareness and sustainability initiatives. All services are grounded in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) methodology and supervised by chartered professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MERAK: The charity arm of The Tree House International, dedicated to autism awareness and environmental sustainability. Merak organized Asia's largest autism awareness event in 2023 and launched the 2026 'Inclusion Through Sustainability' initiative with a Guinness World Record attempt.

Products and services

• Day School Full-day international school programme (9:30 AM-2:30 PM) for students with special needs, combining academics, therapy, and life skills through one-to-one sessions and small group activities. Delivered at the Dehiwala campus under supervision of certified behaviour analysts and chartered professionals.
• Afternoon School After-school programme (3:00 PM-5:00 PM) providing one-to-one teaching and small group sessions for students with special needs, Day School waiting list students, and mainstream school students needing additional support.
• International Behaviour Therapist (IBT) Training IBAO Board Approved coursework providing IBT certification for individuals working in special education, psychology, social work, and behavioural therapy. Includes 40+ hours of training plus 300 hours of supervised practice, delivered online via Zoom on weekends. Total fee LKR 130,000 with instalment option.
• International Behaviour Analyst (IBA) Training Sri Lanka's first-ever Behaviour Analyst Certification Programme, pre-approved by TVEC and IBAO. Offers dual qualification with National/Higher National Diploma plus IBA certification.
• Consultations and Assessments Diagnostic assessments and consultations with Dr Anton James covering autism, ADHD, sensory processing difficulties, intellectual disabilities, specific learning difficulties, IQ testing, and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
• Parent Training and Workshops Training workshops for parents covering behaviour management, sensory integration, picky eating, compliance, language and communication, reinforcement, self-help skills, and learning-how-to-learn. Most workshops are free to attend.
• Sensory Integration Therapy Occupational therapy services delivered in a fully equipped sensory room featuring Ayurvedic massages, designed to make therapy sessions engaging, creative, and stimulating while enhancing student confidence.
• Speech Therapy Speech therapy by qualified professionals using psycholinguistic, behaviour, and social models of speech, with assessment to determine appropriate model(s) for each student.
• Behaviour Therapy Therapy services delivered by Internationally Certified Behaviour Therapists, Behaviour Analysts, and Behavioural Psychologists using evidence-based Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) approaches.
• Hydrotherapy and Swimming Swimming pool facilities for hydrotherapy and water-based activities, with swimming lessons delivered by qualified professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of students who complete programmes transition to mainstream schools or vocational institutions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Villa College (Maldives)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Research collaboration on applied autism research focused on supporting sensory needs and addressing behavioural challenges within the neurodiversity paradigm. Through Memorandum of Understanding, researchers from The Tree House International led by Dr Anton James conduct applied research with Villa College in the Maldives.
• Parley for the OceanscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on beach cleanup projects at strategically chosen locations. Ocean plastic collected is transformed into sensory items attached to panels depicting Sri Lanka's heritage and landscapes for autism awareness initiatives through the Merak programme.
• International Behaviour Analysis Organisation (IBAO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Tree House International is the only Approved Training Provider for IBT (International Behaviour Therapist) certification in Sri Lanka. Dr Anton James serves as Subject Matter Expert in ABA for the IBAO.
• Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSri Lanka's first-ever Behaviour Analyst Certification Programme is pre-approved by TVEC, ensuring national recognition alongside international IBAO certification.
• British Psychological SocietycoreOthersStaff are regulated by the British Psychological Society and required to uphold its professional and ethical codes.
• International Universities and Research InstitutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional collaborations with universities and behavioural science partners to advance evidence-based practices that improve outcomes for students across South Asia.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Nord Anglia Education: Global operator of premium international schools across multiple regions including Asia. Relevant as a broad incumbent that increasingly layers SEN support and could compete for international relocator families considering Tree House.
• Cognita Schools: International group of schools across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Comparable as a broad incumbent that competes in the same premium international-school segment where Tree House's overseas families are choosing between options.
• GEMS Education: One of the largest private K-12 operators globally with a strong presence in the Middle East and Asia. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering premium international curricula that could expand into special-needs provision.

Direct peers

• The Lab School of Washington: US school for students with learning disabilities including dyslexia, ADHD, and autism. Comparable as a K-12 special-needs institution combining academics with therapies and individualized education plans.
• Aspen Education Group: Operates specialized residential and day schools for students with autism, Asperger's, and other neurodevelopmental needs in the US. Comparable as a peer operating dedicated special-needs schools with clinical/educational integration.
• Winston Preparatory School: Network of private schools in the US focused on students with learning disabilities, ADHD, and executive function challenges. Comparable via individualized instruction, multisensory teaching, and a clinical/educational blended model.
• Forman School: US private boarding school for students with learning differences such as dyslexia and ADHD. Highly comparable on the dimension of individualized, evidence-based instruction for special needs K-12 students.
• Beacon College: US college exclusively for students with learning disabilities, ADHD, and other learning differences. Comparable to The Tree House International as a specialized institution serving neurodiverse learners with individualized curricula and outcome-focused programming.

Regional players

• EtonHouse International Education Group: Singapore-headquartered international school group with campuses across Asia, including inquiry-based and inclusive programmes. Comparable as a regional operator offering premium international education in Asia and a potential referral/destination partner.
• Camellia School: Singapore-based school supporting children with autism and other developmental needs using ABA-based programming. Comparable as a regional Asian operator applying ABA methodology for special needs learners.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/thetreehouseinternational
• Instagraminstagram.com/thetreehouseinternational
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-tree-house-international

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Tree House International