Our news page keeps you up to date with life at Orchard Therapeutic Farm, from student achievements and special events to important updates and new opportunities.
It’s the place to celebrate progress, share successes, and stay connected with what’s happening in our community.
It is a real pleasure to welcome you to our first Head of Centre Report. I hope this becomes a useful and enjoyable way of keeping you connected with life at Orchard — celebrating what our young people are achieving, sharing how our provision continues to grow and develop, providing practical updates for families, and highlighting safeguarding information that may also be helpful at home.
As we get ready to welcome everyone back to Orchard Therapeutic Farm, we wanted to share some of the exciting changes that have been taking place over the summer.
We’ve been busy improving spaces across the farm, creating new opportunities for learning and, of course, welcoming a few new animal friends along the way.
As we reach the end of another academic year, it feels important to pause and reflect on just how far our young people have come – and how far Orchard Therapeutic Farm has come alongside them.
SEND Together Oxford, held on Thursday 26 March 2026 and organised by Oxfordshire Parent Carer Forum, brought together educators, parents and professionals to reflect on the current SEND landscape and the direction of travel following the government’s SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan.
How meaningful, real-world experience can build confidence, independence and future pathways.
At Orchard Therapeutic Farm, we see every day how powerful work experience can be for young people with SEND. When learning feels connected to real life, it often becomes more meaningful, more engaging and more empowering.
At Orchard Therapeutic Farm, relationships sit at the heart of everything we do. We believe that when children feel safe, understood and valued, learning becomes possible again. That belief is why we are proud to be a Thrive informed centre.
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Trades has quickly become one of the most valued programmes at Orchard Therapeutic Farm. It developed naturally because our young people asked for something practical, purposeful and real. They wanted learning that involved movement, making and seeing the results of their effort.
Saturday 28th February | 10am to 1pm
Book a 30-minute time slot to speak with one of our team
We are excited to introduce Welfare Wednesday, a space for sharing practical blogs and tips around safeguarding for parents, carers, and staff. These posts are designed to feel supportive and informative, helping us all work together to keep young people safe and thriving.
January always arrives with a certain energy across our Orchard Therapeutic Outreach and Barn provision. It brings a sense of beginning again, of settling back into rhythm, and of taking stock as young people and staff reconnect with routines and learning.
Recognising progression is a vital part of our work at Orchard Therapeutic Farm. Progress is not always linear, and it is not always academic, but it is always meaningful. Taking time to pause, reflect and acknowledge how far a young person has come is essential to building confidence, motivation and self-belief.
Continual Professional Development is central to how we work at Orchard Therapeutic Farm. We are committed to building and refining our skills to ensure we provide safe, thoughtful and high quality support for every young person in our care.