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In 1955 another 87 school leavers were in need of voluntary supervision only.
Section 8 of the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1948, enables a review
to be made in the case of any child who has been reported to the local health authority
under Section 57 (3) of the Education Act, 1944, and gives authority for the cancellation
of the report where the child, on re-examination, is found to be educable. Reports
on five such children were cancelled.
Of these children, two were ascertained as educationally sub-normal, two were
ascertained as educationally sub-normal and partially deaf. The fifth child was considered
suitable for admission to a school for educationally sub-normal children but as he and
his family moved out of London immediately after the withdrawal of the report to
the local health authority his ascertainment is a matter for the local education authority
of the area where he is now living.
In addition to the examinations of pupils who were eventually ascertained as handicapped,
in some 1,500 other instances it was recommended, after examination, that the
pupils should remain in ordinary school with, if necessary, special treatment such as
restrictions on games, special coaching, favourable position in class, etc.
Physiotherapy
for
physically
handicapped
pupils
Reference has been made in previous annual reports to the very successful arrangements,
started in 1950, at the Venetian special school for physically handicapped pupils
whereby physiotherapy has been given to the pupils at the school by physiotherapists
working under the supervision of the Director of Physical Medicine from King's
College Hospital.
Negotiations with other hospitals have now resulted in similar arrangements at a
number of other schools. In addition to King's College Hospital, mentioned above, the
Middlesex, Royal Free, London and St. Mary's (Princess Louise) Hospitals are linked
with local schools for the physically handicapped, and provide physiotherapy in the
schools.
Negotiations are still proceeding in respect of certain schools, in the south of London,
where there are no nearby teaching hospitals.
Diabetic
pupils
The Council maintains a residential hostel for diabetic pupils at Palingswick House,
Hammersmith. Children suffering from diabetes melhtus, which cannot be adequately
controlled at home, and who are of such intelligence as to profit by their stay are
admitted. The principles of control of the disease and the importance of diet are taught,
and the children are trained to make their own insulin injections and to guard against
the accidents of a diabetic life. A visiting medical officer provides day to day care and
a consultant visits regularly. The children attend local schools, the infants returning
to the hostel for lunch, the others have part school meal and part food taken with them
from the hostel.
Speech
therapy
As indicated in the 1954 report, there has been an extension or the speech therapy
service in both day and residential schools. Sessions at school treatment centres have
increased from 28 to 38, those at day schools for the educationally sub-normal from
25 to 26, at day schools for the physically handicapped from 15 to 17 and at residential
schools from 4 to 5. At the end of the year 1,483 pupils were under treatment at these
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