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The Observation and Handicap Register
There is a growing awareness of the importance of discovering handicapped children
as early as possible. Many children acquire their handicapping conditions in the pre-natal, neo-natal
or early post-natal periods of life. Infants who have been exposed to unfavourable hereditary or
adverse experiences during this period are considered to be at risk and a register is kept of these
cases so that they can be offered medical examination at regular intervals until it is certain that
their development is normal.
In addition, the growing child may be placed at risk by accident or illness occurring
during childhood.
In order to ensure that each handicapped child is assisted to the extent necessary to
make full use of their ability, a register known as the Observation and Handicap Register is compiled.
Children whose names appear on this register are kept under special surveillance until they are aged
5 years by regular medical examination and full assessment of their developmental progress.
Close co-ordination of the work of various agencies who are concerned with the wellbeing
of a handicapped child is essential and this involves close contact with the general practitioners,
social workers, hospitals and voluntary organisations.
The Observation and Handicap Register provides the means by which this is achieved
and when necessary ensures the future provision of educational facilities suited to the child's ability
and handicap.
The early years of the child's life are a vitally important period in his development. The
young child with a disability which may interfere with normal learning processes needs early help to
minimise or oversome the handicap before the child's optimal learning period has passed. The
development of such children is particularly vulnerable because of restrictions which may be imposed
by the disabilities on the range and quality of the child's experience and by unfavourable or
unenlightened attitudes of parents."
During 1970 89 pre-school children had special examination and full assessment by
the Principal Medical Officer. Following these examinations 32 children were recommended for
attendance at day nurseries; 25 were recommended for attendance at a nursery class; 4 children
were recommended for placement in the nursery section of a day physically handicapped school;
1 child for a school for speech disorders; and 4 children to the class for non-communicating
children aged under 5 years.
See tables in the Appendix of this report.
Details of Clinics
The Borough is served by Robin Hood Lane Health Centre and eight purpose-built
clinics supplemented by a limited number of sessions held in five premises rented on a sessional
basis.
It is hoped that the plan to build a health centre to serve the Roundshaw area,
replacing the present temporary clinic houses in two adapted flats, together with the plan to
provide health centre facilities by extending the present Shotfield Clinic in Central Wallington,
will be fully realised by the end of 1972.
The Work of Child Welfare Centres
The work of the child welfare centres consists of the supervision of the development
of all children under the age of 5 years with particular emphasis being placed on those children
who are considered 'at risk' and those on the Observation and Handicap Register.
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