School Description

Moore House Academy: Bathgate, is located in West Lothian, in central Scotland. The school provides small group specialist day and residential care and education, including therapeutic support, for children and young people aged 11 to 18 years whose high levels of anxiety and social communication can impede their emotional development and prevent success in learning.
However, where appropriate, our young people are supported to access local mainstream schools. Some of our young people have a diagnosis of an autistic spectrum, others have a diagnosis of FAS and others have experienced social and emotional difficulties, arising from early childhood trauma, dysfunctional family support and mental health needs, occurring often as a result of unemployment and extreme poverty, as well as drug or alcohol abuse. Their challenging needs and barriers to learning prevent success in learning, life and work. Almost all our young people have been excluded from school and have significant gaps in their learning . Many have experienced several care placements.

Our staff work within the underpinning philosophy of Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), thus promoting our nurturing and healing ethos and the development of strong relationships in order to gain the trust of each child or young person. We have a strong focus on health and wellbeing and work with partners to help build resilience in our young people.

All our teachers are fully qualified and registered with the GTCS. Our skilled and qualified day care staff add invaluable support. We provide flexible and creative learning opportunities within carefully planned personalised learning pathways that are rooted in the framework of Curriculum for Excellence. We ensure full entitlement within our BGE curriculum, including utilising the potential of interdisciplinary learning for some young people. Our young people at the Senior Phase are supported to achieve National level qualifications at an appropriate level that can include Highers, as well as other broad nationally recognised achievements. Work experience and links with colleges help to develop our young workforce. Our care and education staff plan and work together closely for the young people who live in our homes to ensure consistency across our 24 hour curriculum. We have a Silver Rights Respecting school as we have an ADHD friendly school award and deliver the Duke of Edinburgh awards.

Regular self evaluation at all levels and careful tracking of progress helps us to disseminate good practice as well as to respond quickly to any identified issues.