London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Leyton 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Leyton]
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59
As a result of these decisions it was possible to admit all the children
on the waiting list and approximately two hundred children are now
attending the two E.S.N. Schools in the Division.
HARROW GREEN EDUCATIONALLY SUB-NORMAL SCHOOL. Number on Roll:
| Leyton | Forest | |
|---|---|---|
| Knotts Green | 43 | 37 |
| Harrow Green | 46 | 60 |
| 89 | 97 | |
| Number admitted 1955 | 20 | 51 |
| Number left | 19 | 15 |
| Reasons for leaving: | ||
| 1. Attained age of 16 and (a) Notified under Sec. 57(3) | 7 | 8 |
| (b) Not notified | 2 | — |
| 2. Notified as Ineducable | 1 | — |
| 3. Removed to other areas | 1 | 2 |
| 4. Notified for Residential E.S.N. School | 1 | 2 |
| 5. To Lingfield Epileptic Colony | 2 | — |
As can be seen from the above particulars the Harrow Green E.S.N.
School underwent a considerable increase in numbers during 1955. The
opening in September of Knotts Green Open Air School as a Junior
annexe to Harrow Green enabled practically all the children in the Forest
Division who have been awaiting admission for some time to enter school
in September. It is satisfactory to be able to give these children the
education suitable to their "age, abilities, and aptitudes." The older
children who have gone to Harrow Green have settled down well and
are apparently happy to be there. One boy did not settle down well at
first as his private doctor seemed to think he was making enough progress
in the ordinary school. This boy is, however, correctly placed at present.
He may eventually be able to return to a Secondary Modern School, but
he was educationally illiterate when he came and is making good progress
in the special conditions now provided for him.
Since the 1944 Education Act allowed the ascertainment of children
suffering from a disability of mind and body at a much earlier age than
was possible under the 1921 Education Act, Harrow Green School has
provided a "Nursery Class" for children from five years of age. It has
been found most useful to be able to observe in this class the young child,
the "borderline" cases where it is difficult to decide whether the child
is going to be educable or not. The true educational subnormal child with
no behaviour disorder or physical handicap can usually take his place in
an infant school for the first year or two, the mental retardation not
usually revealing itself clearly until formal education starts in the 6-7 age
group. But the child seriously mentally retarded not able to try in an
infant school can be admitted to the Nursery class, and it gives the
School Medical Officer and the School Staff time to make a better assesment
of the child's potentialities. At times children are so much helped