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Consultation

Update: Friday 24th October: The consultation is now closed. Thank you to everyone who provided feedback.

Proposal

Please find below information about a consultation that Arbour Vale School undertook to open a satellite site and increase the planned places in the funding agreement it holds with the Department for Education (DfE) from 375 to 455.

Arbour Vale School is a special co-ed school in Slough that provides for pupils from the ages of 2 to 19 with a range of special educational needs and is part of Orchard Hill College Academy Trust, a specialist multi academy trust. The Trust and the School work closely with Slough Borough Council to ensure that our school continues to meet local requirements.

Slough Borough Council have identified the need for additional school places, and we are pleased to be able to work with the Council on this proposed development. Slough Borough Council have identified a potential site that could accommodate additional pupils at Our Lady of Peace (OLOP) School in Slough. The proposed expansion would provide a phased build-up over a two-year period for 80 places above the school’s current Funding Agreement of 375 places bringing the total school capacity to 455 places across the two sites.

As Arbour Vale School is an academy, this expansion proposal would need to be approved by the DfE, and we are therefore seeking the views of interested parties through this consultation to inform the DfE’s decision-making process to amend the School’s Funding Agreement.

The consultation was on the proposal to amend the funding agreement for Arbour Vale School to open an additional site and to increase the planned places from 375 to 455 (375 on the main site and 80 on the satellite site).

The Consultation Process

The consultation period on this proposal was from 2nd October 2025 to 23rd October 2025 and stakeholders were invited to take part in the following ways:

Public meetings to meet the School and Trust leadership team and ask questions were held at Arbour Vale School on Monday 13th October as follows:

  • 9.30am – 11am –  in person at the school site
  • 3.30pm – 5pm – in person at the school site

A virtual public meeting at 5pm on Monday 13th October. Please confirm in writing to office@arbourvaleschool.org if you wish to attend.

Comments on the Proposal could be submitted in one of the following ways:

Please note the consultation closed on Thursday 23rd October.

If you have any questions please contact the school Arbour Vale School, Farnham Road, Slough SL2 3AE.or E: office@arbourvaleschool.org, T: 01753 515 560

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Will there be a secondary provision for the pupils once they leave the primary satellite site?

Slough representative advised that additional secondary provision is not yet in place, but it is being looked into.

2. How many Slough children will benefit from the satellite site?

Slough representative advised that it is hoped that as many Slough children as possible will benefit from the additional places but children from neighbouring boroughs may also benefit if their need can be met at the new site.

Comments received during the consultation

1. This consultation process is concerning at this stage when parents of some students have already been told that their child has a place and have been told January as a start date.

The Local Authority have been informed of this concern. The start date is proposed for April 2026.

2. Parents need to feel assured that the same level of care and education will be provided. Information on what facilities will be shared with the host school is important, and how much interaction with the host schools’ students should be expected, if any.

The satellite site will be part of Arbour Vale School and will share the same ethos, quality of provision and senior leadership. Pupils attending the satellite site will access the main site for facilities and events. The satellite site will have its own play area, sensory room, calming room and soft play.

3. It's a positive step to progress indeed demand is quite high. The main focus should be on maintenance of high quality care and education for special need children.

The satellite site will be part of Arbour Vale School and will share the same ethos, quality of provision and senior leadership. Pupils attending the satellite site will access the main site for facilities and events. The satellite site will have its own play area, sensory room, calming room and soft play.

4. The expansion is such a positive move for Arbour Vale school and it will greatly impacted children and their families. But the teaching need to be carried over as well

The satellite site will be part of Arbour Vale School and will share the same ethos, quality of provision and senior leadership. Pupils attending the satellite site will access the main site for facilities and events. The satellite site will have its own play area, sensory room, calming room and soft play.

5. Locals need should be prioritised

Slough representative advised that it is hoped that as many Slough children as possible will benefit from the additional places but children from neighbouring boroughs may also benefit if their need can be met at the new site.

6. We are in desperate need of more places in order that these children can be placed in an education that will help them to thrive and achieve basic skills. This will then take off the pressure on mainstreams and Resource Bases to allow pupils who can thrive in those settings a chance as well.

We are working swiftly with Slough Borough Council to provide this high-quality provision.

7. More spaces are required for children with additional needs, so they can thrive in an educational setting and are able to access the curriculum.

We are working swiftly with Slough Borough Council to provide this high-quality provision.

8. Further special school places are required for Slough pupils with EHCPs. The LA is grateful that Arbour Vale School is willing to expand further to ensure every pupil continues to be offered a suitable school place to meet their needs.

We are working swiftly with Slough Borough Council to provide this high-quality provision.

9. How will the pupils transfer to the main site when they leave Primary age?

Slough representative advised that additional secondary provision is not yet in place, but it is being investigated.