WELCOME TO MAPLE HAVEN SCHOOL
QUEX PARK
BIRCHINGTON
Sara Llewellyn - School Leader
The opening of Maple Haven stems from my longstanding commitment to supporting children and young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN). This journey began with the establishment of The Llewellyn School, which was created in response to a clear and unmet need for specialist provision— initially for my own child, and subsequently for many others beyond this. Recognising a significant gap in specialist resources and appropriately tailored educational opportunities, I was driven to create a setting where pupils with complex needs could feel safe, supported, and able to thrive. Maple Haven builds upon this foundation and continues this mission, with a specific focus on communication and language needs. Together, the two schools reflect my enduring commitment to improving outcomes and life chances for children with SEN.
Maple Haven is a specialist independent school providing a nurturing and highly structured environment for children and young people aged 4 to 18 with Special Educational Needs. The school specialises in supporting pupils with speech and language difficulties, including those who are non-verbal, pre-verbal, or experience selective mutism. Our approach is firmly rooted in individualised learning, ensuring that each pupil receives targeted support that enables them to make progress academically, socially, and emotionally from their individual starting points.
We recognise that every pupil has unique strengths and learning needs. Our highly experienced staff work in close partnership with families and external professionals to develop personalised education and care plans. These plans address a range of needs, including speech and language development, sensory processing, behavioural support, and cognitive development, using targeted and evidence-based strategies to support progress and wellbeing.
The outdoor environment plays a vital role in our curriculum and therapeutic approach. Purposefully designed, safe outdoor spaces provide pupils with opportunities for physical activity, sensory exploration, and social interaction. These environments support emotional regulation, resilience, and engagement, contributing to pupils’ overall development and readiness to learn.
Enrichment is a key component of the Maple Haven curriculum and supports the development of the whole child. A wide range of activities, including creative arts, music, forest school, animal care, outdoor learning, and mindfulness, encourages pupils to explore their interests, develop new skills, and build confidence in a supportive and low-pressure setting.
Therapeutic interventions are embedded within the school day to ensure consistency and continuity of support. These include speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and behavioural interventions, delivered in line with pupils’ individual needs. Progress is closely monitored, and interventions are adapted as required to ensure each pupil is supported to achieve their full potential in an environment where they feel safe, understood, and valued.
Child-led learning and play-based approaches underpin our educational philosophy. We recognise the importance of play in developing communication, social skills, problem-solving, and independence. By offering a balance of structured and unstructured play opportunities, pupils are encouraged to explore their interests, develop intrinsic motivation, and learn at a pace that is appropriate for them.
Maple Haven is proud to offer a supportive, inclusive, and aspirational learning community. Pupils are given the time, space, and resources they need to grow in confidence and independence, and all achievements—no matter how small—are recognised and celebrated as part of each child’s unique journey.
