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165
towards greater independence. On admission at the age of 5 or
6 years, some children are still bottle-fed and a great deal of
skilled and patient teaching is required to assist them to surmount
the physical handicaps which make self-help so difficult.
This group, perhaps above all others, needs to be taught leisurehour
activities in order that the many hours spent by its members
in wheelchairs at home may, in fact, be those of leisure and not
of boring deleterious idleness.
Since the inauguration of this training unit, success has crowned
the efforts of the staff in creating a stimulating and happy atmosphere
and an environment within which children are given the
best of opportunities to assimilate and adjust.
It is not surprising that, with such an avant garde establishment
as this centre undoubtedly is, visitors are attracted not only from
this country but from Europe and America and its influence on
the design of other authorities' new centres has been significant.
Furthermore, it has played an important role in re-orientating
attitudes both of lay and professional workers who are associated
with such training centres.
1 am pleased to include a report by Miss Godfrey, the Head
Teacher, on the year's activities at the centre :—
"The past year has been one of consolidation as well as
expansion.
In the transition class the boys and girls of approximately
fourteen years and upwards have proved themselves capable of
organising their work and leisure time satisfactorily. On a rota
system, boys and girls cooked breakfast daily and, on several
occasions, have completed the entire process of preparing lunch
for themselves. This includes shopping for the necessary items
of food, preparing and cooking the meal, entertaining members
of staff and clearing away.
The boys have cultivated their garden successfully, and supply
some vegetables for the cookery class. We are hoping very shortly
to extend our woodwork lessons as we are in the process of adapting
a room entirely for this kind of work.
Children throughout the school have moved out into the community.
As well as regular outings for shopping, etc., we have
made a number of educational visits to London using public transport,
including river travel, and lunching in restaurants. Visits for
entertainment have been more ambitious than those undertaken
hitherto, including visits to ice shows and the ballet. During