View report page

114
Occupation Centre.
The classes for low-grade mentally defective children and
adolescents which were maintained on a voluntary basis during the
previous year were, in May, 1924, merged into the Occupation
Centre opened at Grangewood by the Mental Deficiency Committee.
The Occupation Centre deals with three groups of defectives—children
of or under school age, of whom some 24 are on the
register; boys over 16, of whom 4 have attended; and girls over 16,
of whom 10 have attended. The younger children attend for both
morning and afternoon sessions on five days a week, and receive
the same mid-day meal as the children attending the special school
for the mentally defective, held on the first floor of the same building;
those aged over 16 attend, the girls for three and the boys for
two afternoon sessions per week. Further details will be given in
the appropriate section of the Public Health report. It need only
be said here that the effect of the Occupation Centre on those in
attendance has been most beneficial.
Classes for Dull and Backward Children.
Special Classes for dull and backward children have been
established in the following schools: —
Beulah Boys'.
West Thornton Boys'.
Davidson Boys'.
Ecclesbourne Girls'.
Ingram Boys' & Girls'.
Rectory Manor Boys' and Girls'.
Portland Girls' and Infants'.
Sydenham Boys'.
Tavistock Girls' and Junior Mixed.
Whitehorse Manor Boys' & Girls'.
Woodside Boys' and Girls'.
North Park Girls'.
South Norwood Girls'.
Norbury Manor Senior Mixed.
St. Saviour's Junior Mixed.
Purley Oaks Senior Mixed.
After taking a modified curriculum in these classes children are
drafted into the ordinary classes of the schools, as and when they
reach the required standard.
The children in some of these classes underwent medical
examination towards the end of the year, and it is hoped to inspect
all during the present year.