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For obvious reasons a child in a special school calls for more time and expertise from
the School Health Service than the rest of the school population. Each child is examined once
a year by a Senior Medical Officer at the school; not infrequently, the medical examination
is followed by an impromptu case conference in which both parent and teacher participate.
The children in out-of-Borough schools are seen at home during the school holidays.
WOODSIDE SCHOOL, FOR E.S.N. CHILDREN
Dr. May Edge, the Senior Medical Officer responsible for the School, reports as follows: —
"As the new school building was not completed by September 1970, a unit for 26 E.S.N.
children was started in temporary accommodation. By April 1971 it was possible to use the
top floor of the purpose-built school and the original nucleus of children was amalgamated with
another special unit making a total roll of 62. This was increased by September 1971 to 129,
with a staff of 11 teachers. This rapid expansion, combined with problems arising from the
education of older children, so called "late" admissions, added to the load of work both on
the teaching and medical side. The Autumn term 1971 saw the establishment of a Diagnostic
Unit for young children and the school started to function, divided into Junior, Middle and
Senior Departments.
The Parent Teacher Association was formed in November, following an extremely
well-attended Parents Day.
97 children were examined by the end of the year. All the parents attended for these
examinations. The child's hearing is tested by the Audiometrician and children are assessed and
seen regularly by the Peripatetic Teacher for the deaf. The day-to-day health care is in the
competent hands of a State Registered Nurse working at this school as the Welfare Assistant
and apart from her daily work she is available for counselling of children, staff and parents.
The smooth running of the School Medical Officer's work is largely due to the fact that skilled
nursing help is available at this school.
Shortage of Speech Therapists was responsible for insufficient time being given to the
Woodside children but fortunately this situation was remedied after the new year. When the
school returned to work after Christmas 1971 it held 140 pupils in 10 classes. In its first year
of life this school can justifiably claim considerable success in view of many initial difficulties."
MARLBOROUGH SCHOOL, FOR SEVERELY RETARDED CHILDREN
Dr. Rose Stellman — Senior Medical Officer responsible for the school reports as follows:—
"The school was originally known as Sidcup Training Centre, and after its transfer to
purpose-built premises, as Marlborough Training Centre. During the first year under the wing
of the Education Department several improvements were made, i.e. sound-proofing of the
assembly hall, which doubles as the dining-hall, clerical help was made available and there was
a more liberal provision of teaching and play equipment.
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