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such children allow for the early recognition and treatment of handicapping conditions.
The sources of information which lead to a child being placed on the register
are varied, and include birth notifications, paediatric departments of hospitals,
general practitioners, clinic doctors or health visitors.
Once a handicap is confirmed, the child is transferred to the Handicap Register
and is reviewed periodically to ensure that treatment where necessary is being continued,
and that the degree of handicap has not altered. In the fourth year of life,
the child, whether handicapped mentally or physically, is assessed as to its educational
needs, and suitable education or training is planned. At this stage close liaison is
maintained with the Education Officer, heads and teachers of ordinary and special
schools, hospital consultant staff and superintendents of hospitals, schools, etc.
In future it is intended that a comprehensive Observation Register will be kept
consisting of a punched index card for each child and incorporating the "At Risk"
categories as well as Handicapping Conditions. Type of school, training centre etc.
will also be shown. This scheme is also under consideration by the Inner London
Education Authority.
It is hoped that other Boroughs in the Inner London Education Authority area
will adopt a comparable method. This would facilitate the interchange of information
between Boroughs when a child moves, as frequently happens. It is intended that this
register will be used for regular reference and up-to-date information. It should
ensure that every child receives all possible care and advantages available and also
aid in future research to help extend and improve services as necessary.
The following figures relate to the Registers during 1966:

CO-OPERATION WITH CHILDREN'S DEPARTMENT
The Children's Officer is required to obtain medical reports on every child to be
placed for adoption or boarding out. The necessary medical examinations can be
arranged by the Health Department at the request of the Children's Officer, and
reports are submitted to the Medical Officer of Health for scrutiny and approval.
Where necessary, further information is obtained by consultation with hospital and
family doctors. Child Care Officers and Health Visitors exchange information
about families and children involved, and work in liaison with each other.
Care is needed especially in connection with the health and family history of
children offered for adoption. In some cases prospective adopters are interviewed in
order that any abnormalities in a child, or the chance of developing hereditary
diseases may be discussed.
Medical certificates for prospective adoptive parents are also scrutinised as part
of the assessment of these persons as suitable adopters.
Health Visitors are trained to recognise early signs of social and medical deprivation,
and may notify the Medical Officer of Health of children who may need
to be taken into care, and again child care officers and health visitors work in cooperation
with the families of these children.
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