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THE BENTRY SCHOOL
The Bentry School is a day special school which has two sections, one for physically
handicapped and the other for educationally subnormal children.
A weekly medical session is held in the school, at which medical inspections, intelligence
testing and immunisations are carried out. Parents are encouraged to attend, and
many problems are solved by discussion with them and with the headmaster. At the
examination of school leavers the question of future employment is particularly borne
in mind. The school medical officer is then able to make her contribution to the discussions
between the parents, headmaster, and youth employment officer in an effort to
place the children in suitable employment.
We are grateful to the headmaster and the staff for their co-operation which brings
about a harmonious working relationship which is essential in this work.
The following report has been received from Mrs. F. Cocker the physiotherapist
who attends the Bentry School:—
"During the past year six children have been admitted to the Bentry School, five
of these children were suffering from cerebral palsy, one child was a case of muscular
dystrophy; it is interesting to note the decrease in the number of anterior poliomyelitis
cases and the greater increases in the number of cerebral palsy cases entering nurseries
and schools for the physically handicapped children.
With the decrease in the total number of physically handicapped children at the
Bentry school it is possible to give more individual treatments, although I am sure that
some team games (even if the participant is in a wheel chair) are essential as part of the
general treatment, an awareness of a team-spirit and the desire to partake in communal
events being extremely important."
In addition to physiotherapy, therapeutic swimming is also arranged for some of the
pupils attending the Bentry School, and the following report has been submitted by
Mr. A. Brand, who is responsible for this type of treatment:—
"Swimming therapy this year proceeded with the same keenness as always, the aim
being to teach the children some "strokes" as nearly resembling the standard as their
disability will permit.
To keep the keenness of the children, I divide the time into one-third exercise
practice and learning "proper," one-third "races," and one-third free.
Again I would like to thank Mr. Jones, the Sports Organiser at the Barking Technical
College, and his staff for their keenness and help; the staff of Toolpro Ltd., High Road,
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