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55
Nevertheless the very presence of children who are put forward for
consideration as delicate indicates that they represent a group of children
who do not seem able to benefit from the facilities available in an ordinary
school. The number of such children is almost certainly greater than the
number currently categorised as delicate. Whether such children will become
more or less common as larger units of secondary education are developed is
a question which the School Health Service must continue to observe. Equally,
the question whether such children should be transferred to a new type of
special school along with other groups of apparently normal children with
learning difficulties, or whether they should be encouraged to attend more
regularly an ordinary school where increased teaching and social work support
are available, raises much wider policy issues.
HOME TUITION
If a child is not fit to attend any school, arrangements are made for home
tuition. Wherever possible such children are returned to a school as quickly
as possible, since it is recognised that social contact with other children is
an essential part of normal child development. During the year 14 children
were recommended for home tuition, and a further one child was already receiving
such tuition.
UNSUITABLE FOR EDUCATION IN SCHOOL
Twenty-three children were ascertained as unsuitable for education in
school under Section 57 of the Education Act, 1944 (as amended by the
Mental Health Act, 1959). Of these children 13 had never previously attended
a maintained school, and 9 had failed to make progress despite a prolonged
trial at a special school. All the children were referred to the Health
Committee, and they were subsequently offered places in the various local
Training Centres or, in some cases, admitted to hospital.
Three children who had been ascertained previously as unsuitable for
education in school were reviewed under Section 57A of the Education Act, 1944
(as amended). In one case it was found that the child was still unsuitable for
education in school, but the other two children had made some improvement ana
were recommended for a trial at an E.S.N. School. The Committee therefore concluded
that the children were now suitable for education in school, and varied
the previous decisions accordingly.