Ashgate is a school where positivity, tolerance and friendship shine through. Staff ensure that pupils, who all have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), are at the core of everything they do. Pupils thrive in many aspects of the school’s provision. The school has remarkably high aspirations for pupils’ achievement. Staff work resolutely to ensure that they meet pupils’ needs from the time they join the school. Pupils fulfil their potential. Developing pupils’ independence and communication skills is a key part of the school’s curriculum. Pupils are expertly prepared for the next stage in their education. Pupils’ behaviour and conduct is exemplary. Staff create a safe and secure environment for pupils to learn. Warm, trusting relationships between staff and pupils are part of this success. In lessons, pupils engage well with their learning. They sustain concentration on their tasks, producing tailored high-quality work. Staff listen to pupils, giving them support to communicate their wishes and feelings. They manage pupils’ behaviour with superb expertise. Pupils relish the opportunity to take on positions of responsibility. They are proud to be members of the school council or support their teachers with jobs in the classroom and around school. For example, they take their litter picking job seriously.