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APPENDIX C.
REPORT ON THE EDUCATION OF DEAF CHILDREN IN THE WILLESDEN URBAN
DISTRICT.
I beg to report in accordance with the following Minute of the Children's Care Committee :—
" No. 2764, G.A. (23/12/19), Royal School for Deaf and Dumb, Margate.
The parents withdrew the above-named child from the Institution on 28th November,
1925, notwithstanding our advice that this should not be done. We have adjourned
consideration of this case until the child reaches the age of 7 years. In connection herewith
we have requested the Medical Officer to report on the number of deaf and dumb children
in the district, and the possibilities of providing for their education locally."

* Of these children not attending any school, 2 are under 5 years of age, 1 is under 7 years
of age and has been withdrawn by the parents from a residential institution, 1 is suffering from
severe heart disease which renders her attendance at school inadvisable, and the parents of the
remaining child have been ordered by the Court to send her to a residential institution but have
not yet complied with this order.
Willesden Deaf Class.—It will be seen from the above Table that the number of children
available and suitable for a deaf class in Willesden is only 13, viz., 10 children in Residential Schools
for the Deaf and 3 children attending Special Day Schools, which is too small a number to make a
Willesden Deaf Class or School a practical proposition.
L.C.C. Deaf Schools {Day).—It might be possible for the Education Committee to arrange
with the London County Council for the admission to their Special Day Deaf Schools of all the
Willesden children at present being maintained in residential deaf institutions. There would,
however, probably be considerable delay in their admission to these schools even if there should be
accommodation available, as such delay is experienced at present in arranging the admission of the
few children (3 at present) now sent from Willesden to these schools. Moreover, it seems very doubtful
if any economy would be effected by such an arrangement as the following figures show :—
Total cost per annum of maintaining each child at the Royal School for Deaf £ s. d.
and Dumb Children, Margate 75 0 0
Grant payable on each child . 37 10 0
Net cost per child per annum . £37 10 0
Net cost per annum of sending child to L.C.C. School (Day)forDeaf andDumb £ s. d.
Children, Ackmar Road, Fulham 29 10 0
Ditto. Hugh Myddleton Deaf School, Finsbury, E.C 35 0 0
In the case of these two Schools the Education Committee is charged the net cost as above
by the L.C.C., to whom the grant for the children attending is paid direct. Moreover, no contribution
is payable by the parents.
When considering the possibility of transferring the 10 Willesden children now in Residential
Deaf Institutions either to a special class in Willesden or to London County Council special day schools,
it should be borne in mind that all of these children have not available in their own homes the healthy
surroundings, good food, and well-regulated existence that obtains in residential schools.
GEORGE F. BUCHAN,
Medical Officer of Health.
To be presented to the Children's Care Committee on the 13th January, 1926.