How we learn

Our students are taught in small class groups with the average class size being 8 students.

Every class is staffed by a teacher and an average of 3 qualified and experienced teaching assistants.

This ratio makes sure each student receives a mix of whole class, small-group and individual teaching.

We see Moorcroft School as a bridge…

…A bridge between childhood and adulthood

Therapists

There are two creative therapists on site, who are employed for 80% of the school week.
Creative therapy is allocated according to need.
There is a speech and language therapist, and an occupation therapist who works 4 days per week.
Our occupational therapist supports pupils with physical and sensory needs, and we also offer Rebound Therapy, delivered by trained staff.
We have our own physiotherapy team who implement programmes that are then carried out by classroom staff. Our physiotherapists are also complimented by physiotherapy technicians who support young people in the class room.
We also have an educational psychologist who visits the school regularly to support with pupils who are struggling to achieve their best.

We have chosen a bridge as our logo and all our classes are named after famous London bridges. Classes in the Lower School are named after bridges in outer London, while sixth form classes are named after bridges near the centre, to signify that students are on a journey while they are with us.

At Moorcroft we have different ways of teaching students to help them to learn to the best of their ability. We adapt our pathways with specialist strategies, activities and resources, and we can individualise timetables and organise classes in different ways to suit our individual students’ needs.

ASD classes

We have specialist ASD classes. Students in these classes use the TEACCH approach to access learning as independently as possible. Each student has an individual learning station in order to reduce visual distractions. Furthermore, the day is highly-structured so that students become familiar with their routine.

Visual communication aids such as symbol task schedules and visual timetables are used to help these students access the school curriculum. Sensory breaks are also built into the lessons, such as a 5 minute break after a 20 minute activity, for example.

Students also receive intensive therapeutic support, as we believe that in order to achieve outstanding learning, the communication, physical, sensory and socio-emotional needs of our students have to be met. Opportunities to address these needs are incorporated across the curriculum for all the students.

Professionals working with our ASD pupils include Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Creative Therapists and an educational psychologist.

Students who may have challenging behaviour work with familiar and experienced staff who are able to help them achieve their very best.

Multi-Sensory Learners

Students in our specialist provision benefit from a high staff-to-student ratio. We make it our priority to ensure that our students are in a stimulating, nurturing and safe environment, and all of their needs, including physical and medical needs are met, in order to enable them to access learning, achieve and thrive.

Staff members are experienced in working with students with PMLD. Students are monitored and receive input from therapists, such as physiotherapists, rebound therapists, speech and language therapists, creative therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists; we incorporate therapy programmes in to all of the activities throughout the day.

Classrooms in this department are physically separate from other parts of the school to accommodate for the most vulnerable students, and has a curtained area for visual stimulation as well as another adjacent room for individual work. We have direct access to a fenced patio area and on-site hydrotherapy pool.

All the rooms in our school are purpose-built to meet the needs of our students, and they benefit from a range of specialist resources, such as plasma screens, communication devices and a sensory room.

Staff

The class teacher ensures that all staff that work with your child enjoy a positive relationship with them and staff meet regularly to ensure that they are using consistent and effective approaches at all times in their interactions with your child.

If a student’s needs are deemed to be exceptional, even within our special school setting, the School Leadership Team will ensure that further support is available to them.