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In addition 41 children were sent to other Convalescent
Homes where their physical condition necessitated more
specialised treatment than is available at the Russell Cotes
School of Recovery, and this especially applied to children
suffering from acute rheumatic affection of the heart, these
being admitted to recognised Heart Homes where appropriate
treatment could be obtained.
MENTALLY DEFECTIVE CHILDREN.
The mental condition of children specially referred was
assessed to ascertain the possibility or otherwise of their continuing
to be educated at a public elementary school. These
children are as a rule referred by the teachers, who are in a
particularly advantageous position to judge of the children's
capabilities and are as a rule very shrewd judges, excepting
that they are to some extent liable to be guided by the
children's scholastic attainments, which, while being of importance,
are not a completely reliable guide.
The assessment has to be carried out in all cases with
the greatest of care and the children given the benefit of the
doubt, if any exists, as it is obvious that a very serious injury
will be done to a child if he should be relegated to a mental
group below his real capacity.
Of the children examined 16 were admitted to the special
school for mentally defective children at Finchley. The
children in the Borough attending this school, are re-examined
each year and their mental calibre re-assessed, reports are
also obtained from the head teacher and if the mental condition
of any child shows a marked improvement a re-assessment
is at once! carried out.
At the end of the year 33 children from this area were
in attendance at the Special School at Finchley.
HENDON OCCUPATION CENTRE.
In April, intimation was received from the Middlesex
County Council to the effect that the Willesden and Hendon
Occupation Centres had amalgamated, and that the one Centre
would be held at the St. Alphage's Church Hall, Montrose
Avenue, Burnt Oak.