View report page

What conclusions can be drawn from this survey ?
In the first place, the medical conditions listed in table (i) show that the schools for the
delicate do not overlap the work of other schools, such as those for the physically handicapped.*
Second, table (iii) shows that the schools accept children at all ages, and that,
whatever the diagnosis, over half the children are likely to be ready for discharge in about
two and a half years. Third, table (iv) shows that over three.quarters of the children
admitted are discharged as ' special education completed
Maladjusted pupils
Circulars 347 (Ministry of Education) and 3/59 (Ministry of Health)—In last year's report
it was stated that, in accordance with these circulars, negotiations were taking place with
hospital authorities on future planning of child guidance facilities.
The review completed in 1960 showed that no less than 19 of the 34 clinics and units
providing child guidance facilities in the county were located in north and west London,
due largely to the concentration there of teaching hospitals. Other areas were less well
served and proposals were made for the establishment by the Council of three new units,
one each in the districts of Shoreditch, Putney and Woolwich. These proposals were
accepted by the three metropolitan regional hospital boards concerned, who agreed to
provide the necessary psychiatric staff when the units were opened. Search for suitable
premises was proceeding at the end of the year.
Hostel for maladjusted boys—During the autumn the Council opened at Elm Court
Road, West Norwood, its first hostel for the maladjusted. The hostel provides for 13 boys,
aged 10 to 13 years on admission. Boys at the hostel attend local primary and secondary
schools; some may attend part.time at a day special class for the maladjusted, while an
occasional boy may attend the adjacent Elm Court school for the delicate.
After.care for leavers from schools for the maladjusted—It is the Council's responsibility
as local health authority, under the provisions of the Mental Health Act, 1959 and the
National Health Service Act, 1946, to provide community care for all classes of mentally
disordered persons. Consideration was therefore given to the best way in which the
education authority could discharge its responsibility of informing the mental health
authority which children leaving schools for the maladjusted were likely to need such care
in the future.
It was decided to introduce a special report form upon which the head of the school,
the psychiatrist and the social worker could give their opinions, and these are forwarded,
via the Education Officer, to the Principal Mental Welfare Officer in the health department.
An attempt can then be made to effect whatever community care, if any, is considered to
be necessary. The social worker concerned with these reports is the child welfare officer
for children in the care of the Council; the psychiatric social worker at boarding schools
for the maladjusted; or the assistant organiser of children's care work attached to the day
schools for the maladjusted.
Less than half the children placed as 'maladjusted—boarding' are in Council schools.
As explained in my report for last year (pages 150 to 153), at any one time there are some
450/500 children placed in the very wide range of over 100 differing non.Council establishments,
and some of these children are the most seriously disturbed pupils. The majority
of these establishments have no visiting psychiatrist or psychiatric social worker, so that
the special form described above is inapplicable. However, the school health and education
services do have certain basic records relating to the children, and in some cases these
contain a considerable amount of information. For example, some children regularly
attend London child guidance clinics during school holidays, whilst others are seen, during
their school holidays, by a psychiatrist at County Hall.
* Palmer and Pirrie. Survey of pupils in schools for the physically handicapped in London. British Medical
Journal, 29 November, 1958, Vol. ii, pp. 1326.1328.
110