Please e-mail office@oakley.kent.sch.uk if you would like any of the information on our website in a different format.
Our children and young people are at the heart of everything we do.
A very warm welcome to Oakley School. We are the district Special School for children and young people from 3 to 19 years with a wide range of special educational needs located in our Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge (post-16) sites
Our Mission: Children and Young People at the heart of all we do.
Our Ethos: Work Hard, Be Kind, Have Fun & Stay Safe
Our Vision: To give all our children and young people opportunities to engage, explore, discover and develop their independence – to become confident, resilient, happy and well prepared for a positive and meaningful future.
At Oakley School we are ambitious for our pupils and offer a rich Creative Curriculum that is personalised and offers learning in school as well as in the community. Our skilled and dedicated staff team work very hard to make learning motivating, interactive, challenging and fun, whilst ensuring that all our children and young people feel safe, valued and self-confident. We promote “Skills for Life and Independence” so that when pupil leave Oakley School they are prepared for the next phase in their lives and have the best opportunities.
Pupils' wellbeing and engagement is central to all our decision making and how we structure our school and the interventions we use.
Our Wider Curriculum offers excellent enrichment activities including: lunch and after school clubs, curriculum trips and residential experiences in the United Kingdom and abroad. These opportunities provide pupils time and experiences to develop their life skills in new places and with different people in preparation for their next steps.
We work collaboratively across our school community with our Families, Therapists, NHS Colleagues and other professionals and external organisations to support and meet the needs of our pupils.
We hope that you enjoy your visit to our website, and that you find the information you are looking for. Please feel free to contact the school directly with any queries you may have. If you would like a paper copy of any of the information on our website, we would be happy to provide it, free of charge. Email office@oakley.kent.sch.uk
or call us on 01892 823096.
It is my privilege to be the Headteacher at Oakley School and we welcome you to visit the school so you can meet pupils and staff to experience our very special school.
Sam Perryman
Headteacher
At Oakley, we strongly believe that independence can be taught from an early age. Through the Early Years we create many opportunities for children to practice their independent skills. This includes hygiene where the children brush their teeth, wash their hands and wash their face; personal care where we encourage children to carry out toilet and dressing routines with increased independence; following routines such as tidying up after snack time and learning activities; selecting and getting their own resources; and staying safe in their environment.
We also develop social skills such as turn taking, sharing resources, following and carrying out instructions, collaborative play, waiting patiently and being kind towards adults and peers.
Through the Early years curriculum the ‘Characteristics of Effective Learning’ contributes towards their skills for life and independence. These include:
Finding out and exploring
Playing with what they know
Be willing to have a go
Showing concentration and focus
Keep on trying
Enjoying what they are achieving
Having their own ideas
Making links
Choosing how to carry out a task
We believe that it is essential to focus on the ‘Whole Child’, ensuring children develop in confidence, their skills for learning, and their growing skills for life and independence.