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Some of the children attending the school offer special educational problems. This is especially
the case where a child has more than one handicap. At present the Vale Road School has two
special tuition groups for such children and if more children with multiple handicaps are admitted
additional special tuition groups may well be required.
So far as the children with cerebral palsy are concerned all offer special problems for medical
treatment - "therapy". Planning for them would be easy if the desired effect of therapy, like that
of some medicines, lasted for several hours. If it did. therapy given three times a day would be
ideal: its effect would be continuous. It would be better still if its effect, like those of some
injections, lasted for several days. For the best possible results therapy would then be required
only two or three times a week. But therapy, though it can add to the number of things the child
can do well, is a complete success only if some means can be found of ensuring that he in fact
does them well until this becomes a habit. For this, three times a day would be inadequate: three
times a week is obviously more so. What is needed, in addition to intermittent therapy, is informed
interim supervision. In the school we attempt to achieve this through collaboration between parents,
teachers, school nurse, therapist, school medical officer and consultant. The earlier in his life
a child comes under such supervision the better he is likely to respond, and we encourage the
bringing of children of under school age by their parents to the school for advice on management.
We attempt to provide as wide a range of supervised activities as possible. It is hoped that the
construction of a therapy pool may be started next year: the Rotary Club of Haringey has already
raised about half the anticipated cost. Since last year, facilities have been made available by the
Highgate Wood Comprehensive School in woodwork (one session) and metal work (two sessions),
but it has not, unfortunately, proved possible to arrange any needlework sessions. Thanks to the
initiative of Miss L. Powell and Mr. Coates of the Tottenham Technical College, instruction in wigmaking
has been added to the range of forms of technical training available: school leavers can
now obtain whole-time training. We keep up with the times too!"
Audiology Unit
The Audiology Unit is within the curtilage of BlancheNevile School for the Deaf and there is excellent
co-operation between the medical and teaching staff. Three sessions are held each week and in
addition, there are two screening sessions a month for babies who are "at risk".
There is regular supervision of pre-school children with hearing defects and school children with
hearing loss who attend ordinary schools. Pre-school children with hearing loss are admitted where
possible to day nurseries, playgroups, and when necessary to the nursery class at the Blanche
Nevile School. Many of these children wear hearing aids and those not attending BlancheNevile
School are supervised by two full-time peripatetic teachers of the deaf who work inclose co-operation
with Dr. L. Fisch, the Consultant Otologist.
Dr. Fisch reports as follows upon the year's work at the Unit:-
"No major changes occurred at the Audiology Unit during 1969. Unfortunately / cannot report any
progress in meeting the added requirements or rectifying deficiencies at the clinic. In spite of
repeated requests there is still no satisfactory accommodation for a waiting room, no observation
facilities and no toilet facilities for patients or staff. Plans were worked out in detail for these
requirements a long time ago and in spite of various assurances no steps have been taken to provide
these improvements. The most urgent need is still for better waiting facilities and an observation
room for the many visitors to the Audiology Unit.
Peripatetic Teachers
Our two peripatetic teachers are overworked. Each teacher has a case load far above the number
which can be dealt with satisfactorily. All attempts to obtain the services of a third peripatetic
teacher have failed but attempts continue to be made. During 1969 regular meetings with the
parents continued and at some of these films were shown. We hope to develop film showing at
future meetings. These meetings are a very important part of parent guidance.
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