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109
Handicapped pupils
Handicapped pupils who may need special educational treatment
are referred from many sources. In some cases (e.g. delicate
children or those with physical handicaps) examinations are carried
out by school medical officers and recommendations made by the
Principal School Medical Officer either direct to the Education
Officer or to the Medical Adviser of the Inner London Education
Authority. In other cases (e.g. children who are partially-sighted,
blind, deaf or maladjusted) the examinations are carried out by
staff of the Medical Adviser, who makes his recommendations to
the Education Officer.
Children who, because of some handicap or combination of
handicaps, are considered not fit for education at school may
be recommended for home tuition.
Prior to 1st April, 1971, examination of educationally subnormal
children was carried out by specially qualified medical
officers in accordance with Sections 34 and 57 (as amended) of the
Education Act, 1944. Since that date, Section 57 has been repealed.
In practical terms, this means that no child is considered ineducable
and the Junior Training Centres either with or without Special Care
Units have been recognised as separate special schools.
In Wandsworth this has meant the re-designation of Wandsworth
Junior Training Centre in Spencer Park which is now known as
Paddock School. Children who are recommended for admission
will have been examined under Section 34 of the Education Act
and will be considered either Educationally Subnormal (Severe)
or Educationally Subnormal (Special Care), depending upon the
degree of handicap present. Parents have the right to appeal in
those cases where they indicate that they do not accept the recommendation
and advice will then be sought from the Medical
Adviser of the Inner London Education Authority.
Special schools
There are eleven schools in Wandsworth providing special educational
treatment. Not all the pupils at these schools reside in
Wandsworth and some children who live in the Borough attend
special schools in other areas.
At the end of 1971 the number of children receiving special
education at schools in Wandsworth was as follows :—