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"AT RISK" REGISTER
A register is kept of all children who are reported by the Doctor, Midwife or Health Visitor,
because of some factor noted either before, during or after pregnancy, which may make them more
liable than others to develop a mental or physical abnormality.
These children are periodically examined until they are either cleared or transferred to
the register for handicapped children. These are children in need of special arrangements to
enable them to benefit from education to their fullest capacity.
This register is kept up to date, and children are removed or added following screening
tests and examination in hospital or clinics.
ASSESSMENT GROUPS
The Council has continued and extended the provision of special assessment groupsdescribed
in detail in the previous report. They are held in clinic premises, and cater for pre-school
children who are physically or mentally handicapped, or have a home environment which may
render them so. These groups meet on 2 mornings each week; they are kept small in number — 6 to
10 — and are sometimes extended to include children not handicapped. At the end of the year 2
new groups were established, at Bedonwell and Colyers Lane, in addition to Ellenborough Road
and Murchison Avenue. The reports of the supervising Medical Officers are given below.
All the Groups suffered from the fact that transport has so far not been provided but it is
hoped to remedy this in the coming year.
Dr. R.M.F.Stellman, who supervises the groups at Bedensfield and Murchison Avenue reports:
In each group there is a Supervisor who has had special experience in Nursery Nursing and two
or three assistants, all of whom have put much thought and preparation into the care of the children.
At Bedensfield the speech therapist visited once a fortnight till July, but owing to shortage of staff
and pressure of work these visits were reduced to once a month from September. At Murchison
Avenue, the speech therapist has called in frequently and the physiotherapist has given advice to
parents and treatment to children.
There is frequent contact with doctors and other hospital staff and with head teachers
of Infant Schools and Special Classes. During the year many student nurses, teachers and social
workers have visited the group to observe the activities and to discuss the progress of particular
children.
Each child who has left for a special school or class has been assessed in the clinic, and
reports and recommendations have been sent to the Education Authority. Parents are encouraged
to discuss their difficulties and are involved in assessing the progress made by their children.
Most mothers are very appreciative of the help given in this way and many have been helpful
to other mothers who have problems similar to their own.
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