Dedicated and patient staff welcome and help pupils to flourish at Thames Valley School. For some pupils, it is the first time that they have felt comfortable in school and able to learn. Pupils trust adults to look after them and most feel safe and secure. However, the school has been through a very difficult time. Changes to leadership and staffing have unsettled pupils and staff. Expectations of pupils declined while leaders coped with change and staff absence. Fortunately, the current principal and her team have stabilised the school. Pupils’ welfare is at the heart of their work. Leaders are raising aspirations, improving what is taught and helping staff to support pupils more successfully. However, the school’s curriculum is not being consistently implemented. Occasionally, challenging behaviour interrupts learning and causes anxiety for staff and pupils. Pupils and staff genuinely respect each other and celebrate diversity. Some pupils felt bullied and isolated in their previous schools. At this school, they are accepted and their autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is understood well. Leaders work effectively to identify whether friendship issues are confused with deliberate bullying behaviour. Nearly all pupils are confident that bullying is dealt with well.