Marshfields special school is a good place for young people to learn. The environment is bright and busy. Pupils value their work by putting it on display in the corridors for everyone to see and celebrate. Staff work well together to ensure that the needs of each individual pupil are taken into account when they plan the learning activities and opportunities for them. Your staff are unanimous in their belief that this is a good place to work, where they feel valued and supported and have the opportunities to develop their skills. Your pupils, even those who have just started, say that they are glad they are here and are proud of their school. The positive relationships that pupils enjoy, with one another and with staff, are apparent in classrooms. Pupils were seen to work happily side by side and to be patient and thoughtful with each other. Pupils trust staff to help them when they ask for it. They believe that staff have their best interests at heart. The calm learning atmosphere means that little time is wasted in lessons. This, along with the broad curriculum on offer, results in pupils getting good opportunities to develop a wide range of skills and to access a range of learning opportunities and experiences. However, staff do not always provide enough opportunities for young people to take more responsibility for their own learning. Sometimes staff offer too much help to a pupil who could, if challenged, complete the activity or task unaided. Pupils also miss out on opportunities to have responsibilities for others, take a leadership role, or take responsibility for planning an activity for their peers, such as facilitating clubs or activities at lunchtime.