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There are six classes plus three special groups, one of which is a reception
class to introduce these handicapped children to the new world of
school. The other two groups are made up of the more handicapped children
who at their present stage are not able to benefit from the more formal
classes.
The school activities include:—
Music and Drama
Arts and Crafts
Physical Education
Home Economics
Gardening
Visual Aids
Outings to the Zoo and to recreation grounds, etc., stimulate the children
and are intended for use in social training.
Swimming has been introduced and is much enjoyed by all participants.
Speech Therapists and Physiotherapists visit the school routinely and an
Assistant Medical Officer of Health is in attendance each Friday morning.
The overall improvement of children seen by the Physiotherapist has been
really remarkable, and staff are most grateful for the help and guidance they
have received.
Parents are encouraged to visit for progress discussions and classes are
open to them. There is a flourishing Parent/Teacher Association, and although
meetings are not always as well attended as one would hope, the Association
has provided the school with four record players.
St. Jude's Young Communicants raised £50 and purchased two tape
recorders for us and I would like to record my thanks to both these groups for
this practical way of helping the children.
The Christmas entertainment given by the children was well attended by
parents and friends, and an enjoyable party was made possible with the
generous grant allocated by the Education Committee.
EPILEPTIC PUPILS
In Day Special Schools - 9
In Residential Special Schools - 8
No children were ascertained as epileptic during 1970. This does not
mean however that no new cases of epilepsy were discovered among school
children during the year. Most epileptic children can manage quite well at
ordinary school and some may never require any help from the School Health
Service beyond possibly advice to Head Teachers. Only children with severe
epilepsy requiring special schooling on that account are ascertained as
epileptic and some other children with epilepsy may be ascertained maladjusted
or educationally subnormal where the type of schooling provided for
these categories would best meet their need.