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166
cussions with parents, the difficulties of taking their young subnormal
children on family shopping trips have been expressed.
Therefore, we have introduced visits of this type into our nursery
and infant curriculum. In the early days the expected hazards were
encountered. These have now been overcome and the children in
this very young age range can be relied upon to behave in an
acceptable manner in the shopping situation. A number of parents
have commented favourably on the improvement in their children
in this respect. This is most encouraging for staff as it proves the
children are able to transfer the learning from the school to a home
situation. In fact much emphasis over the past year has been laid
on this point of transference of learning from one situation to
another as perhaps the most important role of the Centre is that
of helping the child to live, not only happily and usefully, but
unobtrusively and successfully within the local community.
The summer holiday last year took a slightly different form.
It was sited at Winterton-on-Sea, Norfolk. Hitherto a large camp
type of holiday has been undertaken. From this we moved to the
more homely environment of a National Society Home with our
own group of chidren in sole occupation. Staff and children
became a family unit. Hours of duty were completely disregarded
and the whole holiday was run on family lines. This venture
proved so successful that our thoughts turn for the coming year to
a similar type of holiday for our very young children.
At the latter end of the year, the whole Centre became a hive
of activity in preparing for the Christmas festivities. An ambitious
programme was drawn up culminating in a grand performance of
old-time music hall when the hall, packed to bursting point, rang
with fun and laughter, to say nothing of the melodies of the wellknown
songs of the old-time music hall days. The colourful
costumes added a professional touch to the whole performance
and we are indebted to the Parent-Teacher Association Sewing
Group for their very able assistance in producing the wardrobe.
The Special Care Unit with the most heavily handicapped
children have also taken steps forward and outwards. Wheelchair
outings are now undertaken to the local shops and also the local
public playground.
Physical care for all the children has been maintained and now
includes dental treatment undertaken on the premises by a team
from Guy's Hospital using a fully-equipped dental caravan.
At the close of this year we look forward to developing and
extending our programme, and already new ideas and projects
are being prepared that we may explore further and seek to fulfil
the full potential of the severely sub-normal children in our care."