Hillside School caters for pupils with severe learning difficulties, many of whom have associated medical, sensory or behavioural needs. Some pupils have profound and multiple learning difficulties or autism spectrum disorder. Most pupils have statements of special educational need apart from part-time pupils in the assessment nursery who are being assessed. Many of these also attend mainstream nurseries. These pupils either transfer to mainstream or join Hillside School full-time. Most pupils attend the school from south west Suffolk, including the towns of Haverhill and Sudbury and their surrounding villages. Almost all are White British and speak English as their first language. A very slightly above proportion of pupils are eligible for the pupil premium (extra government funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals, looked after by the local authority or from a family with a parent in the armed forces). Some older pupils also attend Priory School as they are studying for additional qualifications. Key Stage 4 pupils go to West Suffolk College once a week for work-related courses. Most pupils leave at the end of Year 11 to join local colleges with specialist provision. The school provides an outreach service alongside two other Suffolk special schools to support pupils with special needs in mainstream.