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school age, not yet established securely enough to return to the normal educational
system, who could benefit from the transition class. That this is needed has been shown
by the fact that several children who have left have visited the school and longed to
return. They are coping up to a point with their difficulties but would have benefited
from a longer time to stabilise themselves before venturing into the rather difficult
world of the secondary school.
Consideration of various solutions to the problem is being given and it is hoped
that 1963 will see the difficulties cleared away. There is no doubt that one class to
cater for the older child who is not quite ready for transfer back to normal school and
another for the 10-11 year old newly admitted child would enlarge and consolidate the
value of the school to these disturbed and difficult children.
The school medical officer visits the school several sessions each term and sees
icw admissions and follows up any children with physical defects requiring attention.
She also consults with the staff on any problems of mutual interest. The School Health
Visitor also sees the children for general hygiene and well-being and does vision
testing once a year. If necessary visits are paid to the parents of local children.
Two boys were discovered to have congenital heart lesions but after investigation
by a heart specialist neither child required to have his activities curtailed in any
way and no treatment has been necessary.
Psychiatric Sessions
The difficulties described in the 1961 report regarding the attendance at the
school of the Consultant Psychiatrist were not satisfactorily resolved during 1962 and
caused much frustration to medical and teaching staff. It is hoped that these difficulties
have now been resolved and Dr.Little the psychiatrist attheLeyton Child Guidance
Clinic hopes to attend weekly at the school.
The Educational Psychologist and the Psychiatric Social Worker have weekly sessions
after school hours with the teaching staff and although the school medical officer has
not so far been able to attend at the same time as close liaison as possible is kept
by personal visits at other times or by telephone.
The school has many activities which encourage the children to enlarge their
experience and their interest as well as overcoming some of their inhibitions about
learning. Class music, physical education, swimming and dancing are some of their
activities. The children converted a part of the school into their own cinema. During
the summer months they and their teachers and ancillary staff from the school spent a
week-end camping in the Essex countryside.
The amount of their leisure time that the teaching and ancillary staff devote to
the welfare of the children in Lea Bridge Road School is very considerable and I would
like to record my appreciation of the fine work that is being done by all connected
with the running of the school.
Follow-up of Children who have left
29 children have left the school. Thirteen have gone to Secondary Modern School
and all have made satisfactory progress. One boy who is doing well in school is however
not making a satisfactory adjustment out of school. He is a boy with very difficult
home circumstances and little parental support.
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