Merrywood is a safe and caring place to learn. Pupils’ lives are transformed by attending this school and they flourish. This is noticed by parents and carers, with one commenting, ‘this school has been life changing for my child’. This is because of the school’s unrelenting commitment to understanding individual pupil’s social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs extremely well. Education and therapy staff work exceptionally well together as a cohesive team of experts. They put in place highly personalised education, trauma-informed therapeutic approaches, and pastoral care to precisely meet the needs of the pupils. Highly effective and orderly routines help pupils to settle happily into school. For example, the day begins with appropriate sensory or physical activities which prepare pupils for learning. Pupils are keen to learn and build trusting relationships with staff. In turn, staff get to know the pupils extremely well. Pupils learn to understand their own emotions and behaviour. Through developing this knowledge, they are empowered to develop strategies to regulate their own behaviour. This results in a calm and therapeutic school environment where pupils’ behaviour is remarkably respectful and inclusive.