Occupational Therapist
Oak Tree School, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG41 5LP37 days remaining to apply
Start date details
ASAP
Closing date
18 December 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
10 November 2026
Job details
Job role
- Pastoral, health and welfare
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Part time, full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full time equivalent salary
- £39,562.00 - £47,427.00 Annually (Actual) Equivalent to NHS Band 6 (up to £47,427), 37 hours per week, term time only (200 days per year) +£1590 SEN Allowance and £2000 golden hello payment.
Occupational Therapist job summary
Oak Tree School, a vibrant and inclusive specialist school for children and young people aged 5-19, is pleased to offer an exciting opportunity for a passionate and dedicated Occupational Therapist to join our developing and expanding therapy service. Oak Tree School is part of the Maiden Erlegh Trust and provides specialist education for pupils with a range of additional needs.
We are committed to helping every pupil achieve their full potential through a highly personalised and multidisciplinary approach. Our therapy team includes Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Therapy Assistants, and a Therapy Lead/Manager. Working collaboratively with pupils, families, teaching staff, and external professionals, we deliver universal, targeted, and specialist interventions that are fully integrated into the school day. Together, we support pupils to develop their communication, emotional regulation, independence, participation, and life skills, enabling them to thrive both in school and beyond.
At Oak Tree School, we believe in a person-centred and goal-directed approach to therapy, focusing on reducing barriers to inclusion and participation for pupils within the learning environment. Our Occupational Therapy service is tailored to address a range of needs, including physical, cognitive, sensory, and social factors, with the ultimate goal of maximising learning potential, promoting functional independence, and supporting social integration.
Key Responsibilities for the Role
- Work with pupils aged 5-19 with diverse educational and clinical needs, including ASD, Dyspraxia DCD, and Sensory Processing needs.
- Provide a range of services including assessments for physical and environmental access, personal care support, and sensory needs management.
- Conduct therapy at universal, targeted, and specialist levels, focusing on whole-school approaches.
- Engage in report writing for EHCP processes, including assessments and section amendments.
Essential requirements to be successful in the role are:
- Minimum 2 years’ post-qualification experience in Occupational Therapy.
- RCOT and HCPC Registration.
- Demonstrated success in providing Occupational Therapy services to children and young people.
- Strong attention to detail, proactive approach to service development.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Teamworking proficiency.
About this Role
The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate the following;
Experience of working with Autistic children
Experience of working with SEND
Knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions.
HCPC/HCOT registration.
Training opportunities available. eg sensory integration / SOS feeding
The successful candidates will be hard working and committed, with the ability to inspire, motivate and encourage children with additional needs.
About the School
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).
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 to 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.
About the Trust
Maiden Erlegh Trust is a growing community of schools across Berkshire and Oxfordshire, working together to deliver the best possible education for every child and young person. With around 800 staff and 5000 students across nine schools, including primary, secondary, special, and alternative provision, we are proud of the diversity that shapes our expertise.
We Aim High, Be Inclusive, and Work Together. These values drive our focus on high-quality education for all, through collaboration, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
Through the Maiden Erlegh Institute, colleagues access high-quality professional learning at every stage of their career, supported by mentoring, leadership opportunities, and our annual MET Staff Conference—a day that unites our whole team in sharing best practice and learning.
Joining our Trust means being part of a community that invests in people and values expertise; it is about playing a direct role in shaping the lives and outcomes of young people.
You can learn more about working with us and hear from colleagues across our Trust by clicking here to visit our website.
Click Work @ Maiden Erlegh Trust to find out more information about why you should work for Maiden Erlegh Trust and to read testimonials from existing staff.
Benefits
Further information about some of the staff benefits that Maiden Erlegh Trust offers its employees, can be found on our website HERE.
Benefits of Working with Maiden Erlegh Trust
Staff wellbeing and professional development are central to how we work. Colleagues benefit from a wide range of opportunities and schemes, including:
Pension Scheme - Generous employer contributions through the Teachers’ Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme
Annual Leave - Generous entitlement, increasing with length of service
ME Day - One additional day’s leave each year for a significant personal event
Professional Development - Extensive CPD through the Maiden Erlegh Institute, annual Trust Conference and apprenticeship opportunities
Hybrid Working - Flexible working arrangements for eligible roles
Perkbox - Discounts, wellbeing resources and monthly perk points
Wellbeing and Health - Free flu vaccinations and eye tests (where eligible)
Employee Assistance Programme - 24/7 support and discount schemes
Mental Health First Aid Support
Recognition and Community - Celebrating achievements and milestones across #TeamMET
Employee Referral Scheme
Working for our Trust means contributing to something larger by supporting the education and life chances of children and young people every day.
Additional Information
If you believe this is an environment where you can thrive, develop and make a meaningful contribution, please contact recruitment@maidenerleghtrust.org for an informal discussion.
Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as we reserve the right to close the advert and interview at any time.
Maiden Erlegh Trust is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satsfactory references.
If you believe that this is an environment where you can thrive, develop and substantially contribute to an exciting future for our students, then you are encouraged to explore further by contacting recruitment@maidenerleghtrust.org for a more detailed discussion, if required. Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible as we reserve the right to close the advert and interview at any time.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.
Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.
Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children
You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
Applying for the job
This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About Oak Tree School
- Organisation type
- Free School, ages 5 to 19
- Size
- 147 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 5 to 19
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- Website
- Oak Tree School website
School location
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