Hillside Special School is a safe, caring place where pupils learn and make friends. Staff warmly welcome pupils as they arrive; pupils are happy and eager to start their day. Pupils who are new to the school quickly settle into school life. This is because staff know pupils’ individual needs and backgrounds well. By the time pupils finish life here, they are prepared for their next steps. Where appropriate, pupils go on to study relevant courses at local further education colleges. Some pupils have had mixed educational experiences prior to starting here. The school works closely with parents and carers. Staff quickly get to grips with the best strategies to support pupils with their emotions or behaviour. As a result, most pupils attend school regularly and behave well. They show empathy and kindness towards staff and each other. Pupils respect each other’s differences and value how staff look after them. The curriculum contains a range of engaging experiences. These support pupils to build their independence and confidence. These include horse riding or the ‘Duke of Edinburgh’ award. Trips into the community allow pupils to learn important social skills or practise their mathematics. While much of the curriculum is high quality, there are still some areas that need refining.