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39
EDUCATIONALLY SUBNORMAL PUPILS
In Day Special Schools 218
In Residential Special Schools 23
Awaiting placement 57
This is the largest single group of handicapped pupils accounting
for almost half of those requiring special educational treatment in
Croydon. This fact is often not appreciated when discussions take
place about the care of handicapped children.
During the year 62 children were ascertained as educationally sub
normal in Croydon and although efforts were made to increase accommodation
at St. Christopher's School there was general frustration as
waiting lists lengthened. Progress in the preparation of detailed plans
for the second special school for educationally subnormal pupils continued
in anticipation that building would commence in 1968. It is possible;
by studying the number of pupils in each age group who have been
found to need special educational facilities, to determine the extent to
which educationally subnormal pupils are at present being retained in
ordinary schools. In general the number of such children is remarkably
constant from year to year, but a marked deficiency of educationally
subnormal pupils exists in the age group 5 years - 9 years. There are
approximately 42 such pupils fewer than would be expected and it
seems likely that these children have not been put forward for examina
tion by head teachers because of current waiting lists.
I am grateful to Mr. R. G. Grice for the following report.