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131
ST. GILES' SCHOOL FOR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED
AND DELICATE CHILDREN
I am indebted to the Head Teacher, Miss Lambert, for the
following report:-
The year 1955 has been one of steady progress and of bringing
new facilities into co-ordination with established routine.
The conferences, whereat a Specialist in Physical Medicine
and an Orthopaedic Surgeon advise on the treatment of certain
disabled children, have proved most valuable in remedial work
and in strengthening co-operation between home and school.
The provision of the new playing field has helped us to
extend considerably the scope of Physical Education in the school.
School work has approximated in curricula and in standards
of work to those obtaining in ordinary schools; the boys and
girls have again taken part in such activities as the Carol and
Festival Choirs and Junior Sports Meetings.
Physical Education has included normal and special exercises,
cricket, football, netball, tennis and rounders, and there have
been spirited Cricket and Netball matches School v. Staff, as
well as the Netball Match St. Giles' Girls v. St. Christopher's
Girls.
Averages of 30 children and 5 Staff have attended the Central
Swimming Baths after school, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout
the Summer Season; and parents were entertained in September
at a gala whose events were hotly contested, the Swimming Shield
being won by Stevenson House. 22 Swimming Certificates were won
during the year; 2 for ¼ mile, 1 for 220 yds., 2 for 100 yds., 9
for 50 yds., 8 for 20 yds.
Meetings of the Old Scholars and reports of their progress
have been very gratifying. One severely disabled Old Scholar
received the prize awarded to the most distinguished student of
his year at Leatherhead Training College.
The physical disabilities of some school leavers this year
have presented serious and tedious problems to the Youth Employment
Officer and his Staff, and we are, indeed, most grateful
for their tireless and sympathetic work in placing our boys and
girls in employment.
The first two weeks of the Summer Vacation, saw 20 children
and 4 teachers again at Herne Bay, in beautiful weather, following
a most enjoyable programme of swimming, boating, games,
excursions and other pleasures of a seaside holiday.
disabilities and treatment
There were in the school 80 children disabled by cerebral
palsy, poliomyelitis, muscular dystrophy, tubercular bone disease,
spina bifida, skeletal deformity and other causes. 95 children
suffered from cardiac disability or from respiratory diseases.
The remaining 95 were delicate from various causes.
Physiotherapy has been given on 4½ days each week - a total
of 1,878 treatments.
12 visits were made to the Dental Clinic by parties of an
average of 14 per visit.
The Nursing Sister has carried out the prescribed courses of
treatment, dealt with minor ailments; and, assisted by the Male