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A development in 1924 was the opening of a clinic in the Jews' Free School in Shoreditch,
which replaced one in Lombard Wall and was for the treatment of Jewish children in the
school. In the following year 'very beneficial results ' were noted in three children who had
cleft palates.
No new centres were opened in 1926. The Headmaster reported that the centre in the
Jews' Free School was producing good results.
In 1927 an attempt was made to discover, a year after discharge, how permanent was the
cure or improvement of children who had been treated for stammering—
Remaining cured after a year 24
Much improved 19
Relapsed 5
Worse 1
49 (boys 43, girls 6)
Experience in the centres and in the Jews' Free School centre was showing the great
value of a close connection between the speech therapist and the school. It had proved
very helpful in the Jews' Free School, so in 1928 one session a week was devoted to school
visiting. The need for this has not diminished through the years and much useful work
has grown out of school visits by therapists to heads and class teachers.
A new centre was opened in Lewisham in 1929. The number of children reported in
need of treatment had been growing slowly as facilities increased and in this year over
300 passed through the centres. In the following year another centre was opened, in
Paddington, making eight in all and again there was an increase in the number needing
treatment. The plan of treatment had been that each child attended twice a week for
one-and-a-half hours, but in 1931 it was decided that instead of 12 children there would
be nine in each group and that the period of treatment would be 50 minutes twice a week.
Pressure on the centres was increasing and in 1933 the experiment of using studentassistants
was begun. These were persons who, after they had observed the work of the
clinic for some time, were given experience in the clinical work and could then obtain posts
with other local authorities. By the end of the year there had been so many applications
from students for places in the centres that it became necessary to regulate the attendances
and to charge a small fee. This fee was charged until 1953. Students who attended for a
year were given a certificate of attendance which, while not in any way a diploma, was
evidence of practical experience. The requests from students for places in the centres
increased and it became obvious that systematic training was required as well as clinical
experience. Such a course was started for six students in 1934 by Dr. Boome and Miss
Richardson. After a short time this venture was absorbed by one of the training schools.
The annual report of the School Medical Officer for 1933 records that of 455 children
who stammered, 273 were found to have another stammerer in their immediate family
circle and 174 more had a near relative who stammered.
Pressure was building up on the centres as more children were recommended for treatment
and in 1935 the number of centres was increased by five: two for children attending
primary and secondary schools were opened in June in Kennington and Hackney; two
more, intended to serve children in secondary (now grammar) schools, were opened in
November, at the North Western Polytechnic and at Henry Thornton School, Clapham
and worked on Saturday mornings; another new centre was opened at Salter's Hill School
to serve children in the Council's residential homes and schools. There were now 13 centres
to serve school children; they continued through the following year and over 500 children
were treated in 1936. An attempt to follow up some children who had left school five years
or more ago after treatment gave the following result:
Regular employment 29 No speech defect 13
Not employed 1 Slight speech defect 15
Still studying 1 Severe speech defect 3
31 31
148