Police said the large tree branch fell onto the 10-year-old boy and his carer as they were crossing a basketball court at the Kalianna School in Bendigo just before 3pm.

Paramedics and firefighters were called to the the North Bendigo special school about 3pm to rescue the pair who were trapped under the branch.

A 61-year-old woman was stretchered from the scene with minor injuries and has been taken to the Bendigo Hospital in a stable condition.

The boy is being flown to Melbourne in a serious condition with suspected spinal injuries.

The Department of Education and arborists will investigate.

More to come