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37
Many educational visits were made during the year, these included
visits to the Royal Mews, the Natural History and Science
Museums, the London Zoo, Windsor Castle and other places of
interest. In addition to the educational value of these excursions
the children gain in mobility, have experience in coping
with busy roads and in using public transport.
Many parents and friends visited the school on Open Day and
at Christmas for the Nativity Play. The good attendance of
parents on these occasions and at other meetings with them have
proved their keen interest in the school and in their children's
progress.
The ophthalmologist, Mr. Davies, visited the school to
examine the children's eyes. The Deputy Principal School Medical
Officer carried out the annual medical examination. His interest
in the children is greatly appreciated.
The Education Committee had, for some time, been considering
the re-organisation of the school. At the end of the year it was
finally decided to transfer the senior pupils to St. Giles'
School so that they would be able to benefit from the increased
facilities available at a larger school.
Children on Roll 31.12.65 - 22
Admissions during the year - 9
Transferred to Centre for the Blind - l
Deaf and Partially Hearing Pupils
Deaf Partially Hearing
In residential schools 8 5
In day schools and units 8 16
Awaiting placement 1 4
The year was marked by a growing anxiety concerning suitable
educational provision for a number of children who had reached,
or were about to reach, the age of 3 years at the end of 1965.
It was known that the Unit at Kingsley Infants' School was unlikely
to be able to accommodate all the children known to the
Audiology Service whilst the inability to open the newly equipped
Unit at Kingsley Junior School owing to staff shortages offered
little hope of early improvement in the general situation.
During the last two years the Audiology Service has identified
some twenty deaf or partially hearing children under the age of
three years and in a number of cases there is a correlation
between the child's condition and german measles (rubella) in
the mother in 1962. There is little virtue in detecting such
children unless treatment can be instituted as soon as possible.