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The examination of educationally subnormal children is carried
out by specially qualified medical officers in accordance with
Sections 34 and 57 (as amended) of the Education Act, 1944. In
cases presenting no special difficulty the examination is carried
out by a medical officer of the Health Department, who makes
an appropriate recommendation to the Education Officer. The
Medical Adviser of the Inner London Education Authority deals
with all appeals against recommendations which may be made
for special educational treatment, and with the placing of children
who are considered to be unsuitable for education at school
through disability of mind, together with any other cases presenting
special difficulty. Pupils in schools for the educationally subnormal
receive an annual examination to ensure that they are
still correctly placed.
There are nine schools in Wandsworth providing special educational
treatment. Not all the pupils at these schools reside in Wandsworth,
whilst some children who live in the Borough attend special
schools in other areas.
At the end of 1965, the numbers of children receiving special
education at schools in Wandsworth were as follows:—
Blind
Residential 85
Day school 16
Deaf 35
Physically handicapped 79
Delicate 257 Day schools
Educationally subnormal 580
Maladjusted 45
In addition, there are four schools in the Borough which hold
special day classes for maladjusted children.
Deaf Register. There are now 326 cases on the deaf register, 27
of which were new cases notified during 1965.
School Nursing Service
This service is staffed by health visitors and school nurses
assisted by clinic nurses. Experience has proved that this team
can make a considerable contribution to the smooth running of
infants' schools where, in particular, the health visitor's knowledge
of the family background is most valuable. The health visitor also
contributes towards promoting health education in senior schools
and co-ordinates the work of the team in this direction. All the
staff work in close co-operation with the teaching staff, the School
Care Committee and the Health Department Social Workers.