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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 57 boys and 70 girls were admitted during
the year.
Defective Vision and Squint.—During the year 1938, 70 children attending the Special
Schools were examined in respect of errors of refraction (including squint). 67 were dealt with under
the Authority's scheme and 3 otherwise. Spectacles were prescribed for 27 children under the authority's
scheme and for 2 otherwise. Nineteen obtained them under the Authority's scheme, and 8 otherwise.
Defects of Nose and Throat.—During the year 3 children attending Special Schools received
operative treatment apart from the Authority's scheme. Thirteen children received other forms of
treatment.
Orthopaedic and Postural Defects.—During the year 30 children attending the Special
Schools were treated ; 2 of these received residential treatment with education, under Section 80 of
the Education Act, 1921, and 30 non-residential treatment at an orthopaedic clinic under the Authority's
scheme. In addition 8 children received residential treatment with education under the Special
Schools vote.
Following-up.—During the year there were 163 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, 1938.—
191 new cases were referred to this Association during the year, 60 of these being referred by the
Willesden Health Department. The majority of the patients were suffering from anaemia and debility.
In addition 7 surgical appliances were supplied.
Children Suffering from Speech Defects.—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 a qualified teacher. 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 speech defect are followed
up for two terms after they have ceased to attend the class, through the Head Teachers. Should a
child relapse and the defect recur, he is re-admitted to the class for further treatment. The attendance
of children at the classes 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.
Child Guidance.—Children who may be described as " difficult," " maladjusted," " unmanageable,"
are referred in the first instance to the Health Department for examination and, if
suitable, are then referred by the School Medical Officer to the North Western Child Guidance Clinic,
Sheldon Road, Cricklewood, for further investigation and, if necessary, treatment. In March, 1935,
the Education Committee, with the subsequent approval of the Board of Education, acceded to a
request from the North Western Child Guidance Clinic to recognise it as a school clinic for child guidance,
and to pay to it a fee of 10s. 6d. for the first investigation of a case, and 2s. 6d. for each subsequent
attendance of the case for treatment, this arrangement to pertain in the first instance for a period of
twelve months. At the end of the first twelve months a report on the working of the arrangements was
sent to the Board of Education and stating that the Council proposed to continue to send school
children to the Clinic. The Board of Education in reply gave their approval to the proposal.
During the year, 8 new cases were referred to the Clinic, and the following report shows the
results of treatment in three of these cases.
D. V. (9-6-32). A girl of six years with uncontrollable bouts of temper, both in school
and at home, when she would smash anything within reach. Her home life was not satisfactory,
as among other disadvantages there were parental quarrels over the children. It was found
that her tempers were a reaction to an obsession that she was persecuted by everyone, especially
her family. As a result of treatment of the child and of explanation to the mother, the child
is now much improved.
E. S. (17-8-29). This boy was of normal behaviour in school, but away from school
was disobedient to a degree and addicted to wandering. It was found that he was an intelligent
boy playing upon his mother's fears. The mother was shown where she was at fault in her
management of the boy with a consequent great improvement in his behaviour.
J. J. (28-6-24). This boy, although of a mild nature usually, suffered from violent
outbursts of temper, besides being addicted to wandering and petty pilfering. The magistrates
referred him for treatment, as he had come before them for unprovoked physical violence.
In the course of prolonged treatment it was found that he harboured a number of fantastic
fears. These were allayed and his conduct has been satisfactory since. He has now left
school and is in congenial employment.