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102
Children who, because of some handicap or combination of
handicaps, are considered not fit for education at school may be
recommended for home tuition.
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.
There are eleven 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 1967, the numbers of children receiving special
education at schools in Wandsworth were as follows:—
Blind:
Residential 71
Day school 11 82
Deaf 30
Physically handicapped 67 Day schools
Delicate 253
Educationally subnormal 707
Maladjusted:
Residential 69
Day school 48 117
At these special schools, the importance of social training is
emphasized. The scope of education has been broadened to stimulate
and maintain the children's interest in the daily activities of
the community and to prepare them to take their place as citizens
and to find employment appropriate to their abilities when the time
comes for them to leave school.
Partially hearing unit. A partially hearing unit which was formed
at a primary school in September. 1966, is now fully integrated
with the school. The unit comprises three classrooms with an
additional room for auditory training. The twenty-three children
attending the classes quickly adjusted themselves to their surroundings,
even in the instances where the children had limited verbal
communication. In three cases there was a family history of