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HANDICAPPED CHILDREN
A review of the handicapped children in the area over the past year is now almost
complete, and the following table shows the categories of defects found and the type of
special education treatment provided and required.
The child population in Dagenham up to school leaving age is 29,000 and a total of
717 children with defects requiring either special educational treatment or observation
in ordinary schools gives a percentage of 2.5 of the school and pre-school population.
Blind
There were 3 children attending residential special schools. One child under 5 is
blind and also mentally retarded.
Partially sighted
17 children in the area are registered partially sighted, 4 of whom are attending day
special school, and 2 attending residential special school. 9 children are receiving
education at ordinary schools and remaining under observation by the school medical
officer. 2 pre-school children are registered as partially sighted—both of whom are
mentally retarded.
Deaf
A total of 20 children are registered deaf—18 of whom are of school age. 9 attend
day special schools, 1 is awaiting placement in a day special school, 7 are attending
residential special school and 1 is attending ordinary school. Of the 2 pre-school
children, one is already receiving special educational treatment and the other will be
placed at school-entrance age.
Partially Deaf
20 children are known to be partially deaf. Of these, 2 attend day special school,
I receives education in hospital, 1 is awaiting placement in day special school, 3 are
attending residential special school and 2 are attending independent schools. 8 children
are on the register but attending ordinary schools and 3 are of pre-school age. The
total number of ascertained partially deaf children in ordinary schools may well increase
as more systematic audiometric surveys of the school children can be undertaken.
Delicate
Children in this category are usually asthmatics or heart defects, and require long
or short stay at an open air school, either day or residential, or can remain at ordinary
school under observation. Of a total of 133 delicate children, there are 50 children of
school age having special educational treatment. 1 is receiving education in hospital,
20 attend day special school (most of these children are in Barking's Faircross Open Air
School) 15 attend residential special school, 2 await placement in a day special school and
II await placement in a residential special school, 1 is receiving home tuition. 79
delicate children attend ordinary schools and are under observation and 4 are of preschool
age.
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