Maypole School caters for a wide range of complex needs. We are a primarily a school for pupils with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) difficulties; but also for children who do not display challenging behaviour, whose primary needs may for example be severe anxiety, or severe speech and language difficulties, or severe learning difficulties.

How we group children   

Our schools are for pupils with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) difficulties, and most of our pupils will also have some combination of additional complex needs, such as Anxiety, ASD, severe / profound ASD, ADHD, FASD, PDA, OCD, ODD, Toxic Childhood Stress / Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), Attachment difficulties, Developmental Trauma or Delay, Speech and Language difficulties incl severe (non / pre-verbal), Cognition and Learning difficulties, Specific Learning Difficulties such as Dyslexia and Dyspraxia; and more.

Underlying these difficulties, most of our pupils will also have some combination of additional complex needs, such as Anxiety disorders, ASD, severe / profound ASD, ADHD, FASD, PDA, OCD, ODD, Toxic Childhood Stress / Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), Attachment difficulties, Developmental Trauma or Delay, Speech and Language difficulties incl severe (non / pre-verbal), Cognition and Learning difficulties, Specific Learning Difficulties such as Dyslexia and Dyspraxia; and more. 

Some of our young people will have displayed challenging behaviour at their previous schools, and we have many children who were out of school for extended periods prior to starting at Maypole.  

"His behaviour is so much better, He's got friends, routines, he's just learning so much. The fight (to get him to this school) was worth it … I'm glad he is where he is today".

^{Parent, Maypole School (Croydon), June 2026}

"More to be done and more to be expected but in all, the school is doing wonderfully well and helping the growth and development of my child, both educationally and mentally."

^{Anonymous comment, Parent Survey, March 2026}
"This is the best she has ever done at school, both her attendance and her engagement. So much better than we could have hoped for. I'm just really, really pleased!"

^{Parent, Maypole School (Pathways to Employment), Dec 2025}

"He loved his taster morning, he wants to come to the school. He was really cross that I came to pick him up and that he had to leave."

^{Parent, Maypole School (Sunbury), January 2024}

"I've never seen him so relaxed, so happy. And he never likes any school. He said "Mum, I love it. The teachers help me. If you're struggling, someone helps you.""

^{Parent, Maypole School (Leigham Court), January 2024}