Springwell is an average-size special school for primary-aged pupils with complex learning difficulties. There are more boys than girls on roll. All pupils enter school with a statement of special educational needs and many have associated disabilities, including autism, epilepsy and challenging behaviour. Most pupils are from White British backgrounds and almost all speak English as their first language. The school serves the city of Southampton and the Hampshire boundaries and pupils are admitted across the whole primary age range. The school has a stable population, with low numbers of pupils entering school during the year. Since opening in September 2006, the school has expanded and currently provides 80 places, having been built for 58. Of these 80 places, eight are based within the local primary school. Further plans for expansion from September 2013 include an additional 16 places: eight on the school site and eight in a mainstream school across the city. Almost half of the pupils are supported by the pupil premium, (additional government funding for pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals, who are looked after by the local authority or whose families are in the armed forces). This is above the national average. No pupils are from service families. The school is accredited as a National Support School and provides on-going support, advice and training for both special and mainstream schools.