Pupils thrive at Sandside Lodge School. They benefit from expert staff who have a strong understanding of how to support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The school places a clear focus on developing the independence of pupils. Alongside this, there is a relentless determination to ensure that pupils are suitably prepared for adulthood. All pupils are nurtured as individuals. Pupils are happy at school. The school has high expectations for pupils, and it constantly strives for pupils to achieve more. This is particularly evident in the development of pupils’ communication and language skills, where pupils make considerable progress. Staff know pupils incredibly well and they tailor learning opportunities to meet their individual needs. Pupils make considerable progress from their starting points. Pupils are taught to respect each other and to value the differences between people. They contribute well to their local community, through providing clubs for younger pupils, listening to pupils read in local primary schools and visiting care homes. These extensive opportunities support pupils to practise their communication, safety and resilience skills. Pupils prosper from the wide range of trips and visits on offer to enhance their curriculum learning. Pupils delighted in telling inspectors about how much they enjoyed representing the school in a range of county sports competitions, and more recently, at the sports championships in Athens.