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47
Total numbers for the whole School as at 31.12.71 are:—
Resident girls 3
Resident boys 8
Day pupils - girls 4
Day pupils - boys 7
Total 22
The School is planned to take 30 Resident and 20 Day maladjusted pupils
and I anticipate filling available vacancies by the end of July, 1972.
Staffing
Teaching staff for the Main School numbers seven (including the Deputy
Headmaster), an advisable ratio for the maladjusted children expected. The
Autistic Unit will have two teachers. Two teachers have taken the 1 year
course in Teaching Maladjusted Children. Another has nine years teaching
experience in co-educational residential schools for maladjusted chiluren, and
another has both an Advanced Certificate in the Residential Care of Children
and the Central Training Council Senior Certificate in Child Care. Teachers
assist in the residential work of the School by performing extraneous duties.
Two women Child Care Officers Grade 2 (Matrons) are employed. One is
resident and has a Housemother role with particular responsibilities for the
resident girls. The other is non-resident, and has a Housekeeper/Matron type
role.
All the Child Care staff are experienced in work with resident maladjusted
children, and, in addition, the Housekeeper/Matron has worked with autistic
children, and is familiar with residential catering.
The School also has a Nursery Assistant who is a State Registered Nurse.
Medical Provision
Doctor Boffa, or his assistant Doctor Butts, visits the School weekly.
Doctor Crosse is the School's consultant Psychiatrist. He and Doctor
Mills make one morning visit each fortnight, seeing new pupils, and providing
a "follow-up" in other cases. Both attend our case review conferences together
with specialists of other aqencies. The conferences are intended to
have diagnostic, prognostic and integrating functions to ensure pupils'needs
are met, but also have great value as staff training sessions, helping staff
increase their awareness of the underlying causes of childrens' anxieties and
emotional disturbance.
Other Specialist Assistance
A close liaison exists with the School Psychological service. Mr. Reid and
Mr. Edwards attend the case conferences, whilst Mrs. Pearn of that department
spends two days per week assisting and testing in the School.