This is a special school. All pupils have a statement of special educational needs. They have severe and profound and multiple learning difficulties. A third of pupils have autistic spectrum conditions and many have additional and complex needs associated with physical disabilities and medical conditions. There is a much higher-than-average proportion of pupils in receipt of free school meals and those looked after by the local authority, among others. All these groups are in receipt of the pupil premium. The proportion of pupils arriving and leaving at times that would not normally be expected is high. Inspectors were aware during this inspection that serious allegations of a child protection nature were being investigated by the appropriate authorities. Whilst Ofsted does not have the power to investigate allegations of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the allegation were considered (where appropriate), alongside the other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform inspectors’ judgements. There are two residential hostels on the school site run by social care and subject to separate inspections. ‘Doubletrees Hostel’ provides short break care; ‘Pathways’ provides longer term care for children in crisis.