When pupils first start at Lawrence House School, they have had difficult experiences in their lives. Pupils have emotional and behavioural needs. Usually, they have also missed a good deal of learning. Once pupils have joined the school, leaders help them to make improvements. Pupils said that they enjoy school and that they feel safe. Staff look after pupils effectively. Leaders and other staff expect pupils to behave well. Some pupils do not find this easy at times. Staff are skilled at managing incidents of misbehaviour and encouraging pupils to focus on their learning again. Leaders and teachers also manage bullying well. Pupils know that staff do not tolerate bullying behaviour. Pupils understand that leaders expect them to work as hard as they can to be as successful as they can. Most pupils improve their attitudes to learning with the help of their teachers. This enables pupils to gain the knowledge and skills that they need for the next steps to education, training or employment. Pupils receive many opportunities to take part in activities that go beyond the formal curriculum. For instance, they enjoy visits to museums or places of worship. They also develop a sense of responsibility by creating and presenting assemblies in school about important themes, such as mental health.