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85
Arrangements were made for swimming instruction at the Putney
Swimming Baths and the first group of nine children started
attending the baths at the end of the year. It is hoped to extend
these facilities to adults in the coming year.
The I.L.E.A. inspectors of music and art were invited to visit
our school and centres and they made certain recommendations
for the improvement and development of these facilities at our
establishments which will be very helpful in the development of
the programme at these centres.
Organised Adult Centre and Training School holidays
Wandsworth male trainees were again included in the Inner
London Boroughs scheme, organised by the Borough of Hammersmith,
for an organised holiday at a holiday camp at Dymchurch
and were accompanied by Mrs. Roe, the manager of Balham
Training Centre.
Miss Hyde, the supervisor of Battersea Training Centre (then
Newlands at Bruce Hall) was responsible for a party of 19 women
and children who spent two weeks at Pirate Springs in the early
part of the summer term. Pirate Springs is a purpose built holiday
home belonging to the National Society for Mentally Handicapped
Children, also at Dymchurch in Kent. Miss Hyde was assisted by
two members of staff from Wandsworth Training School and one
from Balham Training Centre. The holiday was an enormous success
and none of the trainees was homesick. The standard of
comfort at Pirate Springs is high, and the parents were well satisfied
with the holiday. A minibus was available for outings so that
the group activities extended well beyond the beach at Dymchurch.
Wandsworth Junior Training School
This school with its high educational reputation is attracting
more trained staff and is being used by colleges for the placement
of their Diploma trained students. . Modern teaching methods are
used. Some children are given individual coaching where specially
needed and are taken out daily to use public transport, for shopping,
etc. There is a small transitional class to prepare the senior
children for the adult centres with special emphasis on further
education and activities outside school. Television is used in conjunction
with B.B.C. Teacher Publications to stimulate the children,
and classroom pets such as hamsters are also used in the
classes.
A very successful Open Day was held with an exhibition of the
children's work which included needlework, leatherwork, and art.
There was also a photographic exhibition of school activities and
a sports afternoon. The Open Day was attended by His Worship
the Mayor of Wandsworth.