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85
Two older children, attending the Central School, were showing
improvement in July and were allowed to continue to attend
after the re-transference. Both continued to improve, one being
discharged as cured in December 1934 and the other having,
by December, passed from the category of " improved " to that of
" much improved." Arrangements were made for the remainder
of the Greenford class to have some continuation of their treatment
in their ordinary schools.
With the increasing measure of interest and co-operation
which head-teachers are giving, this method of continuing treatment
is much more satisfactory than it would appear at first sight.
Of the children whose treatment was left in charge of the ordinary
schools when the class moved to Greenford, all except two have
so far improved since 1932 that it has not been found necessary to
re-draft them into the class. One of the exceptions was apparently
cured when the sudden death of his father caused a relapse.
The class, however, can only accommodate twelve children
at a time and its work is rendered more difficult by the necessity
of treating all kinds of speech defects simultaneously. New children
can only be drafted in as others are cured and, therefore, a waiting
list is inevitable. At the present time ten children in Ealing are
awaiting vacancies, while fifteen in the Greenford and Northolt
areas require treatment as soon as the class can once more return
to Ravenor Park. To these must be added two of the former
Greenford class who would profit by further special instruction.
While the matter is not urgent it seems inevitable that sooner
or later the question of a second class must be considered. At
present there are many difficulties in the way, but it must be borne
in mind that the work of the class has consistently justified the
expenditure of money and effort and that it cures or alleviates
a defect which is a very serious handicap to a child in after-life.