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88
Social Counselling for Pre-school Playgroups
Arrangements were made for mental health social workers to
act as social counsellors to some of the pre-school playgroups in
the area to help them over the problems that might arise from
having mentally handicapped children in the group. As a result
three children have already been placed in these groups and are
deriving benefit from mixing with and being stimulated by normal
children.
Training School and Centres
During the year we were faced with problems of staff shortages
as well as a shortage of places for trainees, and other boroughs,
who already had waiting lists, were unable to offer us any further
places in their training centres. By the end of the year, however,
we had been able to recruit our full increased establishment of
staff and had appointed in addition two trainee teachers. We were
thus enabled to introduce many progressive changes.
Wandsworth Training School
The change of name from Wandsworth Junior Training Centre
to Training School indicates the changed attitude towards the
teaching programme for mentally handicapped children.
An extra class was opened so that the teachers now have smaller
classes to teach, and a special class for brighter children was
started with a concentration on the teaching of the "3 Rs". There
is in fact a greater emphasis on education in all the classes, as
opposed to mere training. For instance a very successful "tuck
shop "was started and by this means the children can be taught the
value of money and independence in making their own small
purchases.
A group of children were invited to attend the Sports Day run
by St. Anne's Primary School and greatly benefited from their
contact with the primary schoolchildren.
The staff were helped in developing their work by the kind
invitation extended by Meadway E.S.N. School for our staff to
spend some time at this school observing their teaching methods.
A member of the staff was also seconded to a day release course
held by the London Boroughs Training Committee.
The staff at the school organized a very successful bazaar which
helped to raise £50 for the school fund. This will be used for
outings and improvements in the school.
The sessions for speech therapy at the school were increased
from one to two.
A Parents/Teachers meeting held one evening was very successful
and enabled the parents to discuss the progress of their children
at school.