The school provides for pupils who have autistic spectrum conditions, communication and associated learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Many also have complex learning difficulties, which include those with moderate, complex, severe, profound or multiple needs. A small minority has a medical treatment protocol in place. The school is on two sites some four miles apart. Early Years Foundation Stage provision is at the West site and primary-aged pupils are based at the East site. There are specialist classes for pupils on the autistic spectrum. The school has an outreach service working with 32 mainstream schools. This supports the needs of learners with speech, language and communication difficulties in mainstream schools. Currently, the large majority of pupils are boys. Most are of White British backgrounds. A few are from mixed backgrounds and a very few are of Black or Black British backgrounds. A few are from homes where English is not the home language. All pupils have a statement of special educational needs; although, at different times during the year, some will be assessed for a statement. The proportion of pupils at the school eligible for the pupil premium, which provides additional government funding to support those known to be eligible for free school meals and children in local authority care, is above the national average. Currently, there are very few students in local authority care. Pupils new to the school are usually admitted in September, but there are also admissions and departures throughout the year, including a few who transfer to mainstream schools. Pupils travel from a very large catchment area, some spending over two hours travelling by taxi each day. The school is part of a hard federation with a secondary special school in Eastbourne. Both schools share the same governing body and the executive headteacher of South Downs.