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In 1 case the mother was put under psychiatric treatment.
In 2 cases the parents subsequently parted.
4 remained in the care of their parents under supervision of the Consultant Paediatrician
and Health Department Staff.
3 parents were persuaded to accept daily minding.
During the last two years, one death occurred from Subarachnoid haemorrhage where the
presumptive diagnosis led one to believe that it had been an inflicted injury by a foster parent.
The children reported have remained under constant observation and nothing further has
been detected attributable to wilful injiry.
ASSESSMENT GROUPS FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN
The absence of day nurseries and nursery schools and shortage of nursery class places has
been particularly felt by the group of handicapped children who are in need — either due to
their own short-coming or an impoverished home background or both — of this kind of provision.
The more emphasis was placed on ascertainment by consultation with other professions and
observation of developmental progress over a period rather than one examination — the more
it appeared necessary to provide some form of group activity in existing premises rather than
wait for the fruition of schemes in brick and mortar.
In November 1967 the first assessment group was started in the Child Health Clinic,
Ellenborough Road on the North Cray estate. The building is purpose-built a.nd offers ample
room for activities and good storage space for equipment. The group met on two mornings
every week and during the first month seven children were admitted:
One with severe cardiac defect, one spastic child, and 5 mentally retarded children of varying
degree and aetiology.
The group was supervised by a children's nurse and two voluntary assistants, one is a nursery
nurse.
This clinic is surrounded by a council estate and advantage was taken by the Mothers'
Club to start a play group for normal children on the three other mornings when the handicapped
children did not meet. This has proved a very fertile ground to foster a community spirit in
this neighbourhood. Equipment such as climbing frames, chutes, large boxes and toys were
supplied through the mothers' club and other voluntary bodies, and volunteers, encouraged by
the clinic staff, have cleaned, painted and mended many of the toys.
In February 1969 six children without obvious handicap were introduced from the ordinary
play group, which was found to stimulate this group. These children were moved on in the
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