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39
Oldfield Road Physically Defective School.—The certified accommodation at this
school is for 165 children. During the year under review the average number on the roll was 155,
the actual number on the roll on the 31st December, 1936, being 162. The average attendance for
the year was 129. There were no children awaiting admission at the 31st December, 1936.
The school takes physically defective children between 5 and 16 years of age. The staff
consists of one Head Teacher and seven full-time Assistants.
During the year 8 children were allowed to leave school before reaching the age of 16 years,
10 children were allowed to attend ordinary elementary schools, and 1 child was transferred to a
residential institution for epileptics.
The school dinners are brought from Gibbons Road Feeding Centre and are served in the School
Hall. On an average 105 of the children take the school dinners.
One trained Nurse is attached to the school. She treats minor ailments as required and supervises
the personal cleanliness and the care of the teeth and hair of the children. She arranges for
the repair of surgical instruments and boots. She also gives the children the nutritive drugs ordered
by the doctor.
The school is visited by the Certifying Medical Officer once a fortnight, and each child is seen
every six months. The parents are notified of any defects found which require attention.
The majority of the children at this school who are actually crippled attend periodically at an
Orthopædic Hospital or an Orthopaedic Department of a General Hospital; and in addition, facilities
for treatment of this kind are available at the Stonebridge Health Centre where a Specialist visits
twice monthly and the requisite nursing staff is in daily attendance.
Convalescence.—The Education Committee have made arrangements with the Russell-Cotes
School of Recovery, Parkstone, near Bournemouth, for the reservation of places for 9 boys and 4 girls.
This home was provided by the donors as a country residence near the sea for poor town boys and girls
who are anaemic and debilitated, and who are physically defective within the meaning of the Education
Act, 1921; and it is recognised by the Board of Education as a Special Residential School. The
boys and girls are selected both from the physically defective and the ordinary elementary schools,
and the duration of the stay is six weeks, except in special cases when an additional six weeks stay can
be arranged. All the cases which have been to the institution have shown a distinct improvement on
their return home. In all 75 boys and 27 girls were admitted to the school during the year.
The Education Committee have also made arrangements for the reservation of 4 places for
boys and 11 places for girls at St. Dominic's Open Air School, Godalming, and St. Patrick's Open Air
School, Hayling Island, respectively. The children are selected from both the physically defective
and the ordinary elementary schools, and the duration of stay is six weeks. All the cases sent have
shown a definite improvement on their return home. In all 37 boys and 73 girls were admitted during
the year.
Defective Vision and Squint.—During the year 1936, 25 children attending the Special
Schools were found to be suffering from errors of refraction (including squint). They were all dealt
with under the Authority's scheme. Spectacles were prescribed for 20 children and 13 obtained them
under the Authority's scheme, and 4 otherwise.
Defects of Nose and Throat.—During the year 1 child attending a Special School received
operative treatment under the Authority's scheme, and 5 children received other forms of treatment.
Orthopædic and Postural Defects.—During the year 44 children attending the Special
Schools were treated; 4 of these received residential treatment with education, under Section 80 of
the Education Act, 1921, and 43 non-residential treatment at an orthopaedic clinic under the Authority's
scheme. In addition 5 children received residential treatment with education under the Special
Schools vote.
Following-up.—During the year there were 199 Special School cases referred for following up
with the view of medical treatment being obtained, remedial measures carried out, or other action
taken.
Work of the Willesden Branch of the Invalid Children's Aid Association, 1936.—
153 new cases were referred to this Association during the year, 29 of these being referred by the
Willesden Health Department. The majority of the patients were suffering from anæmia and debility.
In addition 3 surgical appliances were supplied.
Stammering Children.—There are three classes for children suffering from stammering and
other speech defects, held twice weekly at Bridge Road, Carlton Vale and Chamberlayne Wood Road
Schools, and conducted by Mr. A. D. Bradfield. The class at Carlton Vale School consists of boys,
and the classes at Bridge Road and Chamberlayne Wood Road Schools include both boys and girls.
Each class lasts one hour and there is accommodation for 10 children. Cases of stammering and
other speech defects are referred to the Health Department for examination as to their suitability for
admission to a stammering class. After a period of treatment before discharge from the class, the
child is re-examined at the Health Department and has to satisfy the Medical Officer as well as the
special teacher before he ceases to attend. Cases of stammering are followed up for two terms after
they have ceased to attend the class, through the Head Teachers. Should a child relapse and the
stammer recur, he is re-admitted to the class for further treatment. The attendance of children at the
stammering class is not for any specified period of time, as experience has shown that some children
may be cured after a few months' treatment, while others need to attend for a much longer period.