View report page

Tottenham Day Special School for the Deaf
The school, which accommodates 100 children, covers an age range
from three to sixteen years and admits children from a wide area of
Middlesex, who in most instances travel to and from the school by transport
provided by the Local Education Authority. The nursery class was
fully occupied during the year and stresses the importance of commencing
education for this class of handicapped child as early as possible.
Parental co-operation in speech training especially in very young
children is essential, and it is hoped in the near future to see established
in this Area an Audiology Unit concerned with the early diagnosis and
training of children under two years of age in co-operation with their
parents.
The importance of separating the partially deaf from the totally deaf
at this special school has again received consideration; and it is anticipated
in the new year that all partially deaf children needing special
educational provision will be accommodated in a special class for the
deaf at the Devonshire Hill School, Tottenham.
At the close of the year the headmistress—Miss O. Beatson—retired
after a distinguished career of 34 years at the school and its head since
1943. She has been succeeded to the headship by Mr. T. Brown.
Day Special School for Physically Handicapped
This school, which has been established for many years at Vale Road,
Tottenham, now accommodates approximately 90 children between the
ages of four and sixteen. As in the case of the School for the Deaf, the
children are drawn from a wide area in the County and transport to
and from the School provided by the Local Education Authority.
During 1954 a new prefabricated extension was made to the school
buildings providing a suite of classrooms and amenities for the younger
age group of children. Also with the setting-up of special facilities for
the treatment of children suffering from cerebral palsy (spastics),
authority was given during the year for additional accommodation to
be provided for therapy facilities and overall classroom expansion for up
to 20 children suffering from this birth handicap. Building extensions,
also to include improved indoor sanitation for the whole school, are
expected to commence during the coming year.
After long and devoted service to the school the retirement of Miss
C. Wakefield was received with deep regret by all associated with her
in the work of the school. She was succeeded to the headship by Mr.
Ives, a former teacher in the school and well conversant with its problems
and aspirations.
Swimming Exercises
A special and popular feature of the school during the year was the
weekly visit to the Municipal Swimming Baths. With the aid of volunteer
helpers to dress and undress those unable to do so for themselves and
with others to help in the water, these handicapped children are able to
enjoy an exercise which comes to them more easily than in most other
forms of disability. The bouyancy of the body in the water neutralises
the effect of gravity and enables weak muscles to function more freely.
91