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At mid-term in October, all pupils attending Brent Knoll Day Open Air School
were transferred temporarily to accommodation at Hither Green School in Beacon
Road prior to demolition and rebuilding of the Open Air School on the original site
in Mayow Road. Although environmental conditions in Beacon Road are not those
of an Open Air School, all facilities of medical and nursing care and special education
and transport etc. are provided.
PROBLEM CASE CONFERENCES
At these conferences, which are held approximately once a month, the needs of
children who present special educational difficulties are discussed. Problems are
mainly of a psychiatric nature and many of the children are referred to Child Guidance
Clinics or to an Educational Psychologist. Arrangements for remedial teaching or
special tutorial classes are also made.
The conference meets under the chairmanship of an I.L.E.A. District Inspector
and is attended by the Divisional Care Organiser and the Divisional Officer (Education)
with members of their staff. Also present are a Senior Assistant Medical Officer
representing the Principal School Medical Officer, Educational Psychologists,
Specialist teachers, Headteachers and others concerned with the welfare and education
of individual children under discussion.
The meetings give a valuable opportunity for discussing many facets of medical,
social and educational problems of schoolchildren resident in the borough.
SCHOOL CARE SERVICE
I am indebted to Miss I. M. Rowe, the Divisional School Care Organiser, for the
following report on the work of the School Care Service:
There were twenty voluntary School Care Workers recruited during 1966—mainly
introduced by other voluntary workers in the district. Personal introduction has
always been preferred in this area, although some workers have come from other
sources, such as articles in the press or in magazines. Unfortunately an article in the
South East London Mercury in March 1966 brought no response. However, efforts
are continually being made, recruiting and training being part of the function of a
School Care Organiser. Any suggestions regarding sources of recruitment are always
welcomed by myself and the staff, and quickly followed up.
Of the 109 County Schools in Lewisham (over 40,000 school population) 10
primary schools and five secondary schools are without Workers at the present
time, and others have inadequate coverage. The situation, of course, changes rapidly
and may be quite different by the time this report comes to print.
The demands made on the School Care Service would be insupportable were it
not for the dual system of voluntary workers supported by the professional staff,
and I would like to take this opportunity of thanking the voluntary workers for their
loyalty and devotion to the children of Lewisham over the years. At the same time
I would like to thank the School Health Staff, and my own, for the way in which
they work together for the good of the school children in this Borough.
DEPTFORD SCHOOLS TREATMENT CENTRE
The Deptford Schools Treatment Centre is run by a Voluntary Committee comprised
of ten members.
The function of the Committee is to manage and run the centre, and there is at
least one visit made each month by a member of the Committee to ensure that all
is in order and to hear and note any complaints. There is a full Committee meeting
every quarter by which all matters and correspendence are fully discussed, and
recommendations made.
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