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16
ST. GILES' SCHOOL FOR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN
The year 1964 has been one of relative stability in which further
progress has been made, particularly in improving the teaching environment.
Minor building works completed during the year have included a new
medical toilet and bathroom block to deal with the increasing problem
of incontinence; the provision of supplementary heating in the Physiotherapy
Room and the link corridor to the swimming pool. Improved
facilities for the teaching of Handicraft, Music and Art have also been
provi ded.
Mr. G. Doe was appointed Deputy Head and Mr. G. Hallam was given
charge of remedial education throughout the School. A room has been
equipped with a very wide range of apparatus to function as a remedial
workshop.
Those aspects which have now become an established part of the life
of the school - i.e. swimming, school journeys at home and abroad,
participation in a very wide range of educational and social activities
have continued throughout the year.
We were, for a time, without a second physiotherapist but the
vacancy has now been filled. The vacant position of male medical
attendant was filled by a re-allocation of duties among part-time
female attendants - the number of such posts being increased to four.
Routine medical examinations were held on 32 occasions when 426
children were inspected, 188 parents were present.
Specialist medicals were held termly. Dr. Fearnley examined 18
children, 10 parents being present. Mr. McQueen took over Mr. Robertson's
clinic and saw 16 children, - 7 parents being present.
The preparation and follow-up of all such medicals was carried out
by the Nursing Sister and her staff. A wide range of ailments was
treated and full records of each child's progress have been maintained.
In the Psysiotherapy Dept., 8,952 treatments were given and among
those children being treated were 53 orthopaedic and 58 postural cases.
We are indebted to Dr. E.M. Hegarty for her continued interest in
and work on behalf of, our children.
Speech therapy is a regular feature of the school's medical provision,
33 children being treated regularly whilst others were seen for
assessment. Total number of treatments given amounted to 422.
The average number on roll was 197, the attendance was 86%. There
were 46 admissions, 21 children left for employment and 28 went to
other schools; 2 died.