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MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE
Castle School
An important event in the service this year was the completion
and opening of The Castle School and Training Centre new premises in
Goresbrook Road, Dagenham, in June.
After many years of "make do and mend" in the old Castle School,
the new environment was a delight to both staff and children.
The usual outings and visits of observation were made during
the year and in May a very enjoyable holiday at Pontins Holiday Camp
at Camber Sands, was had by 20 children in the care of 8 staff.
At the end of the year 75 children were on roll, including 11
needing special care. attendances were made during the year.
Education of Mentally Handicapped Children
The Education (Handicapped Children) Act, 1970 received the Royal
Assent on 23rd July 1970. It made provision for the Secretary of State
for Education and Science to appoint a day from which Section 57 of
the Education Act, 1944 would be repealed, severely mentally handicapped
children would no longer be classified as "unsuitable for education at
school", and local health authorities would cease to have power to
provide training for such children.
Staff of local health authorities engaged in training these
children would transfer to the Education Service, together with the
appropriate premises, etc.
Education authorities were requested to send their proposals
for establishing special schools to the Department of Education and
Science and the designation of the newly built Castle School as a
Special School for Educationally Sub-normal Children was formally
approved as from the Appointed Day (1st April, 1971)*
Responsibility for the health of the children will remain within
the Health Department, but will become the responsibility of the School
Health Service instead of the Mental Health Service. In fact the same
medical officer who has the responsibility for the day to day
invigilation of the children at Castle Training Centre will be the
School Medical Officer for Castle Special School.
Close co-operation and planning between the Health and Education
Departments will be essential to ensure the smooth transfer of functions
from one Department to the other so that the interests of the children
are in no way impaired.
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