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All the Unit pupils appear to have quite a number of friends among the
hearing children in the school. They have had a good share of various
awards - Bronze Medal for Personal Survival, 25 words per minute R.S.A.
Typing, vouchers for fund raising efforts. We issued our 2nd magazine in the
Spring. All the pupils continue to have very patient and interested concern
from the staff members in whose classes they work or register. Only the two
(temporary) deaf children use a taxi service now.
In October an induction loop was installed in the Assembly Hall. At
New Cross Hospital in the same month, aids were checked and ear moulds
renewed. The School Medical Officer came twice during 1971, and in
November Mr. Parsons interviewed all the children - but only 2 parents.
Many visitors have included local head teachers, teachers, students and
a local primary teacher who started in October a course for the Diploma in
Deaf Education at London University. Parents did not attend the various year
interviews with staff. In March however, we had a fair response from parents
of all Croydon Unit pupils at a meeting to get proposals made to put to Sir
Keith Joseph by the R.N.I.D. April Conference.
The Unit pupils appear very happy and progress satisfactorily both academically
and socially. All our ex-pupils keep in touch with us and occasionally
visit the school.
EDUCATIONALLY SUBNORMAL PUPILS
In Day Special Schools - 479
In Residential Special Schools - 21
In Hospitals - 58
Awaiting Placement - 84
The category of E.S.N, children was broadened by the Education
(Handicapped Children) Act, 1970, which came into effect on 1st April, 1971.
Children who previously had been designated as unsuitable for education in
school are now included in the educationally subnormal classification, and
this accounts for part of the increase in this group and also for the large
number of E.S.N, children in hospital. The latter are children needing nursing
care, many with gross physical as well as mental handicaps, or too disturbed
to be contained in the community.
Another effect of this Act was to bring Coldharbour School into the mainstream
of education and under the control of the Chief Education Officer. The
pioneer work carried out there when these severely handicapped children were
the responsibility of the Health Department will, it is hoped, be built upon
under the new regime. A further chapter in the educational approach to fitting
these children to take their place in society to the full extent that their
ability allows has now opened.