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year, Croydon Technical College sent three students on long-term placements
and University College Hospital continued to send two medical students
for one day per month,
Fulham Training Centre has 60 places for boys and girls aged between
5 and 16 years, All but two of these children are from the London Borough
of Hammersmith, One of these is a Wandsworth boy who had been allowed to
remain, as a transfer would adversely affect his progress; and the other
was a child from Kensington whose parents refused to allow her to attend
the local training centre. One child from Hammersmith still attends Kensington
Training Centre. There were 60 trainees on the register and the
average daily attendance was 45.
The syllabus included social training, music and movement, and
simple instruction using the Montessori method of teaching. The weekly
swimming lesson continues to be very popular with the children.
The customary Summer outings were arranged including a coach trip
to Frensham Ponds and four outings by public transport. This year, the
Rev. D.F.Andrews, Vicar of All Saints, has kindly allowed the use of the
Vicarage Gardens for the Centre Sports Day. It was a beautiful day and
everyone had a most enjoyable time, particularly the competitors,
The Christmas entertainment took the form of a Puppet Show,followed
by carol singing by the children, and a Christmas party at which Father
Christmas presented each child with a toy. Gifts of money were received
from the Hammersmith Branch of the National Society for Mentally Handicapped
Children, and from a local publican.
Visits were made to the Centre by students from Froebel Institute,
the Avery Hill College of Education, University of London, Maria Grey
College, St. Nicnolas College, Ewell County Technical College, and others.
In addition, three students from Chiswick Polytechnic had long-term placements
in the Centre. Four boys from a local school, and three girls, spent
one afternoon weekly at the Centre as part of their sixth-form studies
College Park Training Centre has places for 35 older girls and
women, and the average daily attendance for the year was 25. With the exception
of one girl from Camden, all the trainees are from the London
Borough of Hammersmith, One member of staff returned from a one-year professional
training course which she had successfully completed.
The trainees continued to do industrial work for local firms, sewing
gas mantles, assembling cheese boxes, and packing sand paper, sanding
discs, and masking tape. They also continued with the laundry work for
themselves, for two training centres and for a local school; and a member
of staff has started formal education and art classes, These are proving
very popular.
During the Summer the trainees enjoyed a day's outing by coach to
Worthing. The Christmas party was again held in the evening, and proved a
great success with everyone. It was nice to see so many fathers present.
Gifts of money were received from the Hammersmith and North London
Branches of the National Society for Mentally-Handicapped Children.
This year, the trainees won a silver gilt medal for flower growing
from the London Flower Lovers League- This is the second time they have
had an award, The flowers are planted in pots by the trainees at the Centre
and then tended by the girls in their own homes until the day fixed for the
competition. It is most praiseworthy how their interest is sustained.
C.25