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PLAY THERAPY
Play therapy sessions for children under five years continued twice weekly
at Thames View Clinic and Northbury Infants School during the year, and were
extended by the addition of two sessions per week at Julia Engwell Clinic with
effect from 9th February 1965. At Julia Engwell Play Therapy, 2 children
attended for the first two weeks, but very quickly the numbers went up to 12,
with a waiting list of 15 children. All children with a special need are
admitted immediately.
Twenty-four children have been helped in this play group this year,
including one little deaf girl who is making great progress with her speech,
three backward children, and four who were having difficulty with their speech,
and one very difficult boy who was sent to us by Ilford Child Guidance Clinic.
At Thames View, 22 children have been helped in this play group including
two mentally backward children, three children who were having difficulty with
speech, and two Indian children who would not speak at all.
Horthbury Play Therapy has helped 19 children, including two mentally
backward children, three very timid children who would not mix with other
children, and five who were having speech difficulty.
In all the groups, 65 children have been helped during 1965.
KINGSLEY HALL DAY CENTRE
We were very sorry indeed to lose Dr. Hodgson this year, but we wish her the
very best of luck in her new and most exalted appointment in the Ministry of
Health. She has been most helpful in any difficulty we have encountered, and
still maintains a great interest in Kingsley Hall. To add to our deprivation,
Sister Torrington also left us - but only for a few months while she had her baby.
Despite our difficulties, the nursery continued to function. The devotion
and skill of the staff was a great source of help and encouragement to the new
recruits who took over the running of the nursery.
Attendance has continued to be excellent. Despite a rather lengthy period
of infection with measles, mumps and chicken pox, the average attendance was
15.5 per day.
The number of admissions was 16 and the number of discharges 15.
There were an increasing number of hospital and dental appointments arranged
by the nursery to which our Staff Nurse accompanied the child. These visits are
most successful, as the specialist is able to get a more accurate account of the
child's behaviour in the nursery. The following is a summary oc accompanied
visits:-
London Hospital Dental School 36
Great Ormond Street Paediatrician 9
I.V.P. 1
Barium Meal 1
Ophthalmic 8
Grays Inn Road Audiology Unit 5
Oldchurch Orthopaedic 4
Maudsley Hospital 2
Child Guidance Training
Centre, Hampstead 2
25