View report page

Number of children seen 15
Pre-school children 5
Attending infant and junior schools 7
Attending senior schools 3
Reason for referrals among these 15 children were as follows:—
For diagnosis 4
Immigrants to Area, known to be deaf I
Partially deaf children, advice as to placement 7
Children known to be deaf—application for admission to
nursery class, Blanche Nevile School or partially deaf unit 3
Source of Referrals:—
Tottenham and Hornsey 3
Other Boroughs in Middlesex 11
London—neighbouring Boroughs I
Vale Road School for Physically Handicapped Children
Cerebral Palsy Unit
The number of children at the Vale Road School for Physically Handicapped
Children at the end of the year was 94, of whom children with
cerebral palsy, poliomyelitis or heart disease accounted for rather more
than 75%. The aim of the school is, of course, to provide for each child
so far as possible a normal education under the special conditions made
necessary by his handicap. For such children, the requirements are
normal schooling, medical treatment and modified activity, and in many
cases each of these can be treated as a separate problem. The Consultant
(Dr. Dunham) in charge of the children with cerebral palsy comments that
the normal schooling and modified activity—together with out-of-school
work and play—can all be "medical treatment", training in doing things
of everyday life in a normal way. In the school, therefore, the aim of
those whose special concern is with the 29 children with cerebral palsy
is to help the children to learn how to tackle normal tasks in a normal
way, and advise others how they also may do this. The team operates,
therefore, in the classroom, the playground and the swimming bath,
rather than in a "treatment room". Girls from South Grove School,
who share domestic science, needlework and swimming with children
from the school, collaborate in the work. Parents attend for advice.
And, in order that normal habits of movement should be established from
the first, special provision is made for parents of children too young to
attend even the nursery classes to be given advice. The "medical treatment"
provided is thus a co-operative effort by parents, teachers, nurse,
therapist and doctor to carry out what may be called "training by the
direct method". The Consultant wishes to pay tribute to the keen cooperative
spirit of all engaged in the work.
During the year advice has been given from the school on the management
of 22 pre-school children, of two children attending occupation
centres and of two children attending the Blanche Nevile School for the
Deaf. Of the 22 pre-school children, three are in attendance at County
Council Day Nurseries.
87