The Bridge at HLC is a caring and welcoming community. Pupils enjoy coming here. They are happy and safe. Partnership with parents and carers is at the heart of the school’s work. Parents value being involved in their children’s education. Parents consistently describe the school as ‘like a family’. They enjoy celebrating with staff the progress that their children make. Staff know their pupils very well. They understand pupils’ wants and needs and use this knowledge to ensure that pupils’ needs are met effectively. Staff are skilled at noticing the slightest changes in pupils’ behaviour and step in quickly to refocus them or engage them in other learning. As a result of this, behaviour in classes is calm, and pupils usually do well. Leaders make sure that pupils joining or leaving the school are exceptionally well supported. Parents and external professionals are extensively involved to make sure that pupils are ready for their next steps. Because of this work, pupils settle in quickly and start to do well. Pupils access an extensive range of opportunities. Pupils enjoy sports, such as accessible ice-skating, horse-riding and tennis. Older pupils run an enterprise project in the form of a spring fair every year, which is one of the highlights of the school calendar.