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33
children under the age of five years. Moreover, the Committee have submitted
proposals to the Department of Education and Science for a new
nursery and infant unit at St. Giles' School for physically handicapped
pupils. It is hoped that the approval for this project will be given in the
next special schools building programme commencing in 1971, and the
need for such facilities is readily apparent from the figures in Table 11.
Indeed, it may be asked whether present facilities are sufficient to meet
the increasing number of physically handicapped children likely to come
forward during the next few years. A study of the present pattern of
attendance at St. Giles' School shows that a significant number of children,
resident outside Croydon, are currently being accommodated at the
school. Providing new admissions are increasingly restricted to Croydon
residents the additional numbers of children coming forward will probably
be contained, but adjoining areas may well find it necessary to review
their own facilities in the light of a necessarily more restrictive policy
in Croydon in the future.

Blind
One blind child was ascertained during the year.
Partially Sighted
During the year two children were found to require special educational
treatment in this category and both of them were admitted to St. Luke's
School. The placement of two of the children who had reached secondary
school age but who were considered to be unsuitable for transfer to accommodation
at St. Giles' School, gave rise to continued anxiety. Neither had
been placed by the end of the year despite many approaches to alternative
schools, and energetic attempts to follow the advice, both of the staff of
the Authority and of the Department of Education and Science. The Committee
eventually concluded that one child was unsuitable for education
in school and arrangements were being made to transfer her to an adult
training centre for the blind.
I am grateful to Miss J. Rundle fear the following report of the work of
the school during 1967.