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Many of these attended twice weekly, and until the air raids,
the attendance was most satisfactory. Unfortunately, 55 children
were evacuated and only 28 had returned by December.
During September treatment was given in 14 schools until it
seemed safe for the children to resume their attendance at the
Centres. -
Fifty-two special school visits were paid to discuss the progress
and to see new cases of speech defects. The teachers sent reports
after six months, and these showed that the children had gained
self confidence and sociability. On February 23rd, a talk on
“ The work in the Speech Centre " was given at a meeting of
Head Teachers at, which the School Medical Officer presided. A
similar talk was given to the Staff at North Ealing School and
afterwards two Head Teachers visited a Centre.
One hundred and ninety home visits were paid—126 of these
during the Flying Bomb period when very few children attended—
to obtain the home co-operation which is essential if the treatment
is to be wholly satisfactory.
The Centres were also visited by students of speech therapy
from the Central School of Speech Training and the Therapist
worked in close co-operation with the Child Guidance staff.
The following summarises the results of the treatment :—
Discharged as cured 46
Left school 15
Left the area or treatment 22
Still evacuated 27
CHILD GUIDANCE CENTRE.
The Child Guidance Centre opened on the 1st October, 1944,
in temporary premises. Its function is the diagnosis and, where
possible, treatment of psychological disorders arising in the school
population. Referrals come mainly from Head Teachers, Medical
Officers, the Juvenile Court and the Juvenile Employment Bureau.
Many children are examined in the first instance by the Psychologist,
sometimes in conjunction with the Psychiatric Social Worker.
A number of these cases can be disposed of by giving advice in the
appropriate quarters ; the remainder proceed to a full clinical
examination, involving the participation of the Psychiatrist. The
figures which follow immediately below refer only to those children
who received such full examinations during the period of the
report.