Oak Tree School

Oak Tree School is a special school for pupils with education, health and care plans, and it is part of the Maiden Erlegh Trust. Following its June 2026 full inspection, the school is performing at the expected standard overall, with attendance and behaviour judged strong. Safeguarding standards are met. Pupils benefit from a nurturing, inclusive and calm environment where relationships are positive, routines are clear and therapeutic support helps them feel safe, regulate their emotions and develop communication, independence and self-esteem. The curriculum is ambitious and coherent, and inclusion sits at the centre of the school’s work. Pupils typically achieve well from diverse starting points, including disadvantaged pupils, and are generally well prepared for their next stages. Personal development is a clear strength, with well-designed pastoral support, enrichment, community opportunities and leadership roles. Leadership and governance are effective, staff feel valued and supported, and trustees challenge leaders appropriately. There are still areas to develop. In some lessons, activities are not closely matched to the intended curriculum, so pupils do not consistently secure the knowledge, skills and understanding leaders intend. The school’s work with parents and carers is not yet consistently recognised by parents themselves and remains a priority. Leaders should ensure teaching activities align closely with intended learning across all lessons and pathways, and continue strengthening parent and carer partnerships.

Strengths

• Attendance and behaviour are strong, with high expectations, calm routines and pupils who feel safe and behave well.
• The school provides a nurturing, inclusive environment where pupils’ individual needs are understood and supported effectively.
• Therapeutic and pastoral support is well coordinated and helps pupils with communication, self-regulation and wellbeing.
• The curriculum is ambitious, coherent and adapted to pupils’ highly varied starting points.
• Inclusion is central to the school’s work, with tailored support and pathways for pupils with EHC plans.
• Pupils typically achieve well from diverse starting points, including disadvantaged pupils.
• Personal development is prioritised through a well-designed programme, enrichment activities and leadership roles.
• Leadership and governance are effective, with staff feeling valued and supported and trustees providing appropriate challenge.
• Safeguarding standards are met, and pupils trust staff to support them with concerns.
• Pupils are generally well prepared for the next stage of their education, personally and academically.

Areas for Improvement

• In some lessons, activities are not closely aligned to the intended curriculum, so pupils do not consistently secure the intended knowledge, skills and understanding.
• Teaching quality is not yet consistently high across all lessons and pathways.
• Partnerships with parents and carers are not consistently recognised by parents themselves and remain a priority for development.

In 2024–25 pupils at Oak Tree School attended 91.1% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 24.0% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 2.1% of pupils at Oak Tree School were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Oak Tree School had 6.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 25.3% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26 Oak Tree School had 147 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: autistic spectrum disorder.

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Oak Tree School received £46,538 and spent £34,865 for each of its 96 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £45,000 (£471 per pupil).

Across all 8 schools of Maiden Erlegh Trust, income was £9,722 and spending £9,767 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Wokingham · Wokingham local authority: places and applications

Oak Tree School is part of Maiden Erlegh Trust, which runs 10 schools. The nearest others:

• Maiden Erlegh School Reading
• Maiden Erlegh School in Reading Reading
• Hamilton School Reading
• Great Hollands Primary School Bracknell
• Birch Hill Primary School and Nursery Bracknell Forest
• River Academy Reading
• Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge Reading
• John Rankin Junior School Newbury
• John Rankin Infant and Nursery School Newbury

What is Oak Tree School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Oak Tree School is Expected standard, from an inspection in September 2026.

When was Oak Tree School last inspected by Ofsted?

Oak Tree School was last inspected in September 2026.

How many pupils does Oak Tree School have?

Oak Tree School has 147 pupils on roll.

What age range does Oak Tree School cover?

Oak Tree School for pupils aged 5 to 19.

What are Oak Tree School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 0% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Oak Tree School?

Oak Tree School is at Woodward Close, Winnersh, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG41 5LP.