North Hill House School in Frome, Somerset, is a purpose-built, co-educational residential and day school for pupils between the ages of seven and 19 years who are on the autistic spectrum. It occupies three sites across Frome. At the time of the inspection there were 24 day pupils and 24 boarders on the school roll. Most pupils are placed by local authorities and all but one have a statement of special educational needs. Six pupils are looked after by their local authority. The school makes use of additional off-site locations for physical education, together with placements at colleges and settings where work experience is provided. Post-16 pupils are educated at local further education colleges. The school is part of the Priory Group, which operates a large number of schools nationally for pupils with special educational needs. The school opened in 1999 and the last education inspection was in January 2010, when it met most of the regulations for registration. Residential provision was last inspected in June 2012. A progress monitoring visit was made in April 2010 to evaluate the progress the school had made in implementing its action plan and all the regulations were then met. The school describes its mission as, ‘Caring and preparing for an independent, successful future through individual pathways of education and learning, promoting self-worth and well-being in a safe, positive environment.‘ What does the school need to do to improve further? Extend the vocational studies available to the pupils. Ensure alternative communication aids are available to enable continued learning outside of the school day, and enhance communication opportunities between parents, carers and friends by having wireless access (WiFi) to the internet. Ensure boarding accommodation is well maintained, for example, by redecorating areas that are damaged and replacing tired and worn furniture. Ensure all outdoor play areas are appropriately lit to enable safe play.