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252 children were examined by School Health Service Doctors and had
intelligence tests during 1971. The classifications arrived at and recommendations
made were as follows:—
(1) Found to be educationally subnormal:
(a) Recommended for St. Christopher's or St. Nicholas Day School
for E.S.N, pupils 102
(b) Recommended for Coldharbour School for E.S.N. pupils 10
(c) Recommended for Residential School for E.S.N. pupils 2
(2) Found to be unsuitable for education in school 5
(3) Other Recommendations:
(a) Referred back to an ordinary school 64
(b) Referred for further investigation by the School
Psychological Service 11
(c) Recommended for Day Special Schools for other handicaps 6
(d) Referred for Speech Therapy 8
(e) Referred for Medical Treatment 18
(f) Referred for further assessment 17
(g) Other investigations 9
It is pleasant to be able to report that the number of children on the
waiting list for assessment at the end of 1971 was only 29, compared with 235
at the end of 1970. This marked improvement was due in the first place to
fewer children being put forward for assessment after the large number referred
by Head Teachers in anticipation of the opening of St. Nicholas School. Also
many of the children on last year's waiting list were tested by the School
Psychological Service and where there was no question of any medical factors
being involved and the child did not need transfer to special school, the School
Health Doctors were not involved. This help given by the Educational
Psychologist in reducing the waiting list was much appreciated.
In addition to the above assessments, children attending special schools
are under constant observation to ensure that they are still correctly placed. As
part of this observation routine intelligence tests were carried out at the
following schools.
St. Christopher's School 16
St. Nicholas School 13
Coldharbour School 4
St. Giles' School 15
St. Luke's School 7
During the year under review the Education (Handicapped Children) Act,
1970 came into operation, and from April 1st in that year Coldharbour School
came under the Education Department and no longer under the Health Department.
This was a further step forward in the recognition of severely mentally