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“I would like to thank all those who helped to make the service run smoothly
and effectively, in particular our colleagues in the teaching profession, without
whose co-operation our work would be so much more difficult."
(See Statistical Table 57.)
HANDICAPPED CHILDREN
It is the duty of the local education authority under Section 34 of the Education
Act, 1944, to ascertain what children in their area require special educational
treatment and to provide special education. Places are provided for Enfield children
in day special or residential schools maintained by the London Borough of Enfield,
other local education authorities or voluntary bodies, and children from adjoining
boroughs are accommodated in Enfield special schools.
There are 264 Enfield pupils in day special schools and 110 in residential
schools. Children attending residential schools are medically examined annually,
and those at residential schools for maladjusted children are also seen annually at
the child guidance clinic.
Joint Circulars 9/66 and 7/66 of the Department of Education and Science
and the Ministry of Health referred to the co-ordination of Education, Health and
Welfare Services for handicapped children and young people with the object of
establishing arrangements which would ensure co-ordination in the care of every
handicapped child; and that essential information would be available to all departments
and services which might have a contribution to make.
The newly formed Co-ordination Committee mentioned earlier considered the
circulars and decided that the present arrangements, which are subject to constant
review, were basically sound and working well.
The categories of handicapped pupils defined under the Handicapped Pupils
and Special Schools Regulations, 1959 and 1962, are blind, partially sighted, deaf,
partially hearing, educationally subnormal, epileptic, maladjusted, physically handicapped,
pupils suffering from speech defect, and delicate.
(a) Blind — pupils who have no sight or whose sight is or is likely to become
so defective that they require education by methods not involving
the use of sight. No new cases were ascertained during the year.
At the end of the year there were two children in special schools.
(b) Partially sighted — pupils who by reason of defective vision cannot follow
the normal requirements of ordinary schools without detriment to
their sight or to their educational development, but can be educated
by special methods involving the use of sight. One new case was
ascertained during the year. At the end of the year there were ten
children in special schools.
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