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156
The scheme for assisting children who are backward in reading has
continued to flourish in the Leyton Primary Schools. A separate report
has been made on this. During the Autumn a similar scheme has begun
to emerge in the Forest Division. Six Primary Schools in Harlow, Loughton
and Chigwell now have the help of a part-time teacher, who is giving small
groups of children extra help with reading two or three times a week. The
Psychologist has not had time to make the selection of children for the groups,
but has discussed the organisation of the scheme and supply of suitable
books, etc., with the Head Teachers and with the Teachers appointed to do
the work.
During the year the Psychologist has received more requests for lectures
than ever before. In the day-time 7 lectures were given, either at Teachers'
Refresher Courses, or at a Home Office Course for House Mothers at Wansfell.
In addition, 14 lectures were given in the evenings to a great variety of groups,
about half of them being Parent-Teacher meetings in School.
In 1954 for the first time the Psychologist has undertaken work with
" migrant" pupils who move into the area with " Central School" placements
obtained previously in their home district. Each of these children has
to be seen and tested individually and recommendations made for suitable
Schools in Essex, after discussion with the parents. Nine such reports were
prepared in 1954. The Psychologist has also investigated and reported on
five children in Leyton Schools and one in Cooper's School, Bow, who were
reported to be " misfits " in Technical or Grammar Schools.
Work of the Educational Psychologist in the Child Guidance Clinic.
The Psychologist has continued to act as liaison between the Clinic
and the School on behalf of individual children receiving treatment at the
Clinic. 73 special visits were made to Schools during the year for this
purpose.
The Psychologist also continues to take individual children for remedial
teaching at the request of the Psychiatrist. During the year 12 children
(6 from Leyton and 6 from Forest Division) have received this help and
altogether there were 157 remedial teaching sessions. Children are not
taken on for this help at the Clinic where there is a remedial reading
group in their school, except in exceptional cases.