London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Hammersmith 1966
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hammersmith Borough]
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Handicapped Pupils.
During 1966 special educational treatment was provided for 868 children.
The following table shows the categories of handicaps and number of pupils receiving special education in day schools in the London Borough of Hammersmith. These schools serve much of the West of London and accordingly many of the pupils are not residents of Hammersmith.
| Type of Handicap. | School. | No. of Pupils. |
|---|---|---|
| Delicate | Wood Lane School. | 145 |
| Partially-sighted | John Aird School. | 106 |
| Deaf | Ackmar Road School. | 48 |
| P arti al ly-h earin g | Units in — 1) Holman Hunt School. — 2) Hammersmith County School | 27 |
| & Christopher Wren School. | 7 | |
| Physically handicapped | Queensmill School. | 38 |
| Educationally subnormal | Elizabeth Burgwin School. | 197 |
| ,, ,, | Wedgwood School. | 82 |
| ,, ,, | St. Huberts School. | 167 |
| Maladjusted (including unit for 5 autistic children). | Northcroft School. | 51 |
(42 pupils are accommodated at Palingswick Hostel for diabetic children and attend day schools
in the neighbourhood).
Educationally Subnormal Children.
Under Section 34 of the Education Act, 1944, it is the duty ofalocal education authority
to discover which children over the age of two years require special educational treatment as
handicapped pupils. Of the various categories of handicapped pupils, the educationally subnormal
is the largest.
Under this Section 143 pupils were examined on account of a disability of mind or any
other condition which might necessitate special educational treatment. 130 children were examined
for suspected disability of the mind and of these, forty were recommended as fit to continue to
attend ordinary school and ninety were recommended for placement in a school for educationally
subnormal pupils. The remaining 13 were examined because of their physical handicaps. 8 were
recommended for day physically-handicapped school, 2 for boarding physically-handicapped
school; and 3 for home tuition.
Children Unsuitable for Education at School.
Section 57 of the Education Act, 1944, (as amended by the Mental Health Act 1959),
deals with the examination and reporting to the local education authority of children considered
unsuitable for education at school.
Under this Section 31 children were examined. Of these 2 were recommended for ordinary
schools; 6 were recommended to attend a school for educationally subnormal pupils, 17 children
were recommended to attend a mental health training centre and 2 were recommended for community
care only. The other four were referred for further specialist examination with the following
results:- Two were recommended for attendance at a mental health training centre; one for attendance
at an autistic unit; and it was recommended that the fourth child be permitted to leave a
special school, having reached normal school leaving age.
(62)