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36
PART III HANDICAPPED PUPILS
There are some 690 children in Croydon who are sufficiently handicapped
to warrant the provision of special educational treatment facilities.
This is very similar to the number reported in 1967 (691) and
suggests that the number of children requiring special facilities may be
reaching a stable proportion (1.5%) of the school population. When handicapped
children are ranked according to the year of birth it is interesting
to note that between the ages of 6 years and 14 years the number of handicapped
children in each year group is surprisingly constant (63). Of these
approximately one half are educationally subnormal, and one-fifth are
physically handicapped. Earlier in this Report (page 16 ) reference was
made to the increasing number of handicapped school children, and it
should be remembered that the majority of children with a handicap are
educated in ordinary schools. No record is maintained of the number of
these children, and it is a great tribute to the teachers in Croydon that
such children seldom require the active intervention of the School Health
Service. Nevertheless, there are many difficulties associated with the
education of handicapped children in ordinary schools, and it must be
recognised that in some cases admission to a special school is essential
if a satisfactory educational programme for the child is to be achieved.