Kingswode Hoe caters for pupils with moderate learning difficulties and additional complex learning needs. Although registered for pupils aged five to 16 years, the school has not admitted any pupils to the Early Years Foundation Stage or to Key Stage 1 for the past eight years. Therefore, the Early Years Foundation Stage was not inspected. All pupils have a statement of special educational needs arising from their moderate learning difficulties. The large majority also have one or more additional learning difficulties identified in their statements, such as autistic spectrum disorder, behavioural emotional and social difficulties, or speech language and communication needs. The proportion of pupils for whom the school receives pupil premium funding is above average. This is additional funding for pupils entitled to free school meals, those who are looked after by the local authority or from where one member of their family is serving in the armed forces. The vast majority of pupils are White British and very few speak English as an additional language. There are almost four times as many boys as girls in the school. No pupils attend alternative provision as part of their education. Since the last inspection two new assistant headteachers, a behaviour support worker and two specialist higher learning teaching assistants have been appointed. The school hosts students on initial teaching training as part of the Colchester Teaching Alliance. The school is also a member of the Essex Special School Educational Trust with other Essex special schools. There has been a significant increase in the proportion of pupils with additional behavioural emotional and social difficulties referred to the school.