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49
the Day Hospital Unit at the Child Guidance Clinic allows quite severely
disturbed children to receive appropriate treatment on a day basis. In the
absence of these facilities, many more children would find their way into
residential schools. Moreover, the day facilities themselves are largely
made possible by the availability of hospital beds at Queen Mary's Hospital
under the direction of Dr. Crosse. The opportunity for inpatient hospital
treatment allows relatively sick children to be treated on a day basis in the
certain knowledge that, should it become necessary, skilled inpatient care
can be provided.
Provision for the older, adolescent school child remains a problem.
Dr. Crosse represented the Department at meetings organised by the London
Boroughs Committee to consider ways in which the needs of these children
could be emphasised. Adolescents have many problems and those who become
mentally disturbed may be unsuitable for admission either to a hospital
for children or to the wards of a mental hospital for adults. Special units
would seem to be the logical solution, but require much careful thought to
avoid the difficulties which they can themselves create.
PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED PUPILS
In Day Special Schools 122
In Residential Special Schools 8
During the year 13 physically handicapped children were recommended
for admission to suitable special schools, and all of them were admitted.
Reference has already been made in this Report to the increasing number of
physically handicapped children (page 36) and to the need to provide special
educational facilities for the younger child (page 37).
It is now clear that the admission of increasing numbers of more severely
handicapped children to St.Giles' is not without its problems. The school was
not originally designed to accommodate children in wheelchairs, so that
numerous practical difficulties arise. The uneven surfaces of the corridors,
the width of passage ways, and the presence of heavy doors all create hazards
for the young child manipulating a wheelchair over longer distances for the
first time in his life. Toilet arrangements need especial thought, since many
of the more handicapped children are also incontinent. It must be admitted that
only a major reconstruction of the school can provide a realistic solution to
these problems, and the Committee's decision to provide an entirely new
Primary Unit at the time that the Nursery Unit is constructed is most welcome.
It is hoped that the Department of Education and Science will endorse these
far sighted proposals.
In addition to improved buildings, revised staff attitudes are also necessary
if these children are to learn to overcome their handicaps. The increased
attention to these problems by the physiotherapy staff is welcome, and the