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We found that one weekly session was not adequate for the review of the
educationally subnormal, so extra examinations have been done at other clinics.
Dr. Weizmann and Dr. Westlake have helped with this and we have managed to bring
the work up to date.
The matter of transport has been the subject of many recent complaints.
Unfortunately we have a group of severely handicapped children who are chairfast
(6). These children, many of whom are heavy adult size, have to be man-handled
into coaches and small vans and we feel it is time some special transport with
hydraulic lifts for the chairs was provided.
We lost two of our staff in September, Mrs. Cornish our school nurse and
Mrs. Cocker the physiotherapist. Since September 1963 school has been without
a physiotherapist, but happily, I believe a new physiotherapist is soon due
to start at the time of writing this report.
The weekly swimming session at the South East Essex Technical College
remains very popular, but it is of doubtful therapeutic value as the session is
short and the dressing accommodation inadequate.
In spite of these difficulties the atmosphere at the Bentry School is an
extremely happy one. We find that whatever their handicap the children become
less timid and self-conscious.
The staff deserve great credit for their patience and untiring effort.
The following report has been received from Mr. T. G. Hurton, Headmaster of
the Bentry School:-
"There are 195 children on the School Roll, 158 in the Educationally
Subnormal Department and 37 in the Physically Handicapped Department. The
Ministry of Education advocate that the school be reorganised to become a
school for Educationally Subnormal pupils exclusively, and the Physically
Handicapped pupils be transferred to Faircross Physically Handicapped
School, Barking.
The diminishing numbers of the Physically Handicapped Department, now
only 37 in number, presents a serious educational problem as the whole age
range of 5 - 16 years is contained in two classes. For the sake of these
children the proposed reorganisation should be made as speedily as possible.
It is to be regretted that no successor has been found to carry on the
work of our physiotherapist, Mrs. Cocker, who left in September 1963, as
daily exercises are vital for the Physically Handicapped children. Swimming
therapy under Mr. Brand takes place each Wednesday afternoon at the South
East Essex Technical College and is very popular with the children.
Mr. A. Roberts, the Dental Surgeon, visits the school every Monday and
carries out treatment. This is a great boon to Physically Handicapped
children, as transporting them to the Dental Clinic is often a problem.
The relationship between medical, dental, nursing and teaching staff is
most cordial and I am greatly indebted to the Health Services for their
ever-ready help and loyal co-operation.
With the prospect in the future of more seriously physically handicapped
children being admitted to school, some thought will have to be given to
their transport. At present the practice of transporting physically handicapped
children in coaches or small vans is very unsatisfactory. We have
'chairfast' cases coming from the South Essex Division and they should not
be transported in a coach or van. I think that consideration should be
given to purchasing a suitably designed vehicle with hydraulic ramp and
rails for wheelchairs, etc. for conveying seriously physically handicapped
children to school.
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