A Visit to Oaklands School: Championing Support for SEN Students

I had the privilege of visiting Oaklands School in Hungerford last week, where I had the opportunity to engage with staff and learn more about the challenges faced by students with special educational needs (SEN). The visit provided a valuable insight into how Oaklands is supporting its students and the wider community, and I’m incredibly grateful for the warm welcome from Headmaster Georgios Chatzakis and Sir Peter Birkett, the Founder.

The focus of my visit was to hear directly from teachers and staff about the challenges they face in providing the best support for students, particularly in light of the Government's proposals for more students with SEN to be placed in mainstream schools. This is a topic that’s incredibly important to me, as I’m committed to ensuring that students with special educational needs receive the support they need to thrive, both academically and emotionally.

One key issue raised during the visit was the difficulty in navigating Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs). Teachers expressed frustration with the current system, noting that EHCPs are not standardised between different local authorities, which complicates the process for schools like Oaklands, who have students from various areas including West Berkshire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, and Reading. This inconsistency creates a significant administrative burden for teachers, and it’s clear that this is an area in urgent need of reform.

Another concern raised was the long waiting lists for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), which are putting extra strain on the school and its staff. The teachers I spoke to also felt that while parents often have the best interests of their children at heart, there needs to be more input from educators when setting EHCP targets, as sometimes these targets are overly ambitious and not aligned with the students’ actual needs.

The teachers were also keen to highlight the challenges students face when placed in mainstream schools. Many students at Oaklands had previously struggled at mainstream schools, but they are now thriving in the more tailored environment at Oaklands, where their academic and emotional needs are met. This underscores the importance of having specialist schools that cater to the individual needs of students, rather than pushing all students with SEN into mainstream education, where they may not receive the support they need.

The visit to Oaklands reinforced my belief that the Government must do more to understand the real needs of students with special educational needs. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, and it’s vital that we provide a range of options for children, ensuring that they are placed in environments where they can succeed and feel supported.

As a follow-up to the visit, I am in contact with Georgios Chatzakis to further discuss the concerns raised and see what more can be done to support Oaklands and other specialist SEN schools. I’m committed to continuing this dialogue and working with schools like Oaklands to ensure that the needs of students with SEN are properly met, both in mainstream and specialist settings.

The students I met during my visit were incredibly welcoming and clearly benefiting from the tailored support Oaklands provides. Many of them spoke highly of their experience at Oaklands, sharing that they were doing much better at the school than they had in mainstream education. It was heartening to hear that Oaklands is truly making a positive difference in their lives, and I will continue to champion the work they do in Parliament.

I look forward to further engagement with Oaklands and other schools in the Newbury area to ensure that all children, regardless of their needs, receive the support and opportunities they deserve.