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31
PART III HANDICAPPED PUPILS
There are some 691 children in Croydon who are sufficiently handicapped
to warrant the provision of special educational treatment facilities.
This represents an increase of 42 children (6.5%) over the number
in 1966. It is recognised that, wherever possible, handicapped pupils
should be educated in ordinary schools, although many practical difficulties
may make such an ideal impossible to attain. No record is maintained
of the number of children with handicaps who are being educated
satisfactorily in ordinary schools, and it is a great tribute to the teachers
in Croydon that such children seldom require the active intervention of
the School Health Service.
In 1967 a total of 132 pupils were newly ascertained by the Education
Committee as requiring special educational facilities either in special
schools or special units. In the majority of cases medical recommendations
were quite straightforward but some children required especial consideration
and were assessed by the Consultant Panel, to which reference
was made in last year's Report (page 34). The Panel met on one occasion
during 1967.

* Including cases ascertained in previous years.