Newly opened in September 2023, Oak Tree School, based in Winnersh, Reading, is an exciting collaborative project which will provide a safe and happy learning environment for 150 learners from Year 1 to Year 13, with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) for Autism Spectrum Conditions and associated complex needs, including Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) and/or Social, Emotional and Mental Health.

These children and young people have boundless potential so, at the heart of Oak Tree School’s provision, will be a rich and stimulating curriculum, specialist personal development education and targeted therapeutic programmes delivered by talented and specialist staff.

The impetus for this project has been a partnership between Brighter Futures for Children, Reading Borough Council and Wokingham Borough Council as part of their commitment to providing additional special school places for local children close to their own communities.

Community, inclusion and respect are key Maiden Erlegh Trust values and they underpin our vision for Oak Tree School. As the project progresses, we will continue work with our partners and listen to parents and children to realise our vision. Only in this way can we meet the needs of every child and help each one to reach their potential.

Linked to our community values, the school will also offer a range of outreach programmes to support SEND pupils in mainstream schools.

We have developed a Trust wide Special & AP Hub, providing opportunities to connect with staff members in our specialist settings, where we collaborate, learn and innovate together. The mission is to enhance the quality of education and support we provide to students with diverse needs. We encourage open communication, empathy, and respect, at all levels, as we believe that a supportive and inclusive atmosphere is essential for growth and development.