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SPECIAL SCHOOLS
There are two special schools in Willesden, the Leinster special school for educationally sub-normal
children, and the Lower Place school for physically handicapped children.
The Leinster School caters for 135 Willesden and Ealing children who are backward and cannot
learn in ordinary schools; they are brought to school by bus. They stay at school until 16 years of age to
have the opportunity of catching up with children attending ordinary schools.
All the staff are specially qualified; the usual school subjects are taught, but there is little paper
work and the emphasis is on practical work. The children are taken to places of educational value and interest.
A part-time speech therapist visits the school.
Leavers conferences are held which are attended by the children, parents, head teacher, school
medical officer, youth employment officer and representatives of the County mental health department. The
children's progress is discussed and arrangements made to place them in the most suitable jobs.
The Lower Place School caters for 160 physically handicapped children selected from about
160,000 school children of Middlesex. Most of the children live in Willesden because schools in other areas
are much more modern and usually on one floor, so that children with mild or moderate defects can be more
easily accommodated. Divisional Executives in these areas tend to recommend for Lower Place School
the more severely handicapped children who require special care and treatment such as speech therapy or
physiotherapy.
Apart from the teaching staff, there is a state registered nurse, two welfare assistants, one wholetime
speech therapist and one part-time physiotherapist. Following recommendations from the Willesden
Divisional Executive and the Area Health Committee, the County Council has now approved the appointment
of a whole-time physiotherapist. The orthopaedic surgeon visits the school once every six weeks.
The work carried out by the physiotherapist is varied and includes treatment of spastics, postpoliomyelitis,
progressive muscular diseases, ataxia, poor posture, asthma and other chest conditions. Treatments
include plaster work, exercises, co-ordination, relaxation, breathing exercises, walking, stretching,
manipulation, massage and heat treatment. The maintenance and use of crutches, calipers, back braces
and splints are supervised. During the year, additional remedial apparatus has been obtained, and many
children now have individual furniture suitable to their physical needs.
The arrangements for the exclusive use of the swimming baths, one hour each week, have continued
by permission of the Borough Council, and the number of children attending has increased from 27 to 30;
six swimming certificates have been gained during the year. Children living in Willesden are also taken
swimming during the school holidays.
There are only two medical rooms which are used for the work of the nurse and her welfare
assistants, the medical officer, the orthopaedic surgeon, the physiotherapist and speech therapist, and for a
rest room for heart cases and others. Now that the physiotherapist and speech therapist are whole-time,
they have been seriously hampered in carrying out their work efficiently with the shortage of rooms.
All normal school subjects are taught and special attention is given to individual children. Educational
visits to museums, art galleries, zoological gardens, Hampton Court, Windsor Castle, etc., are
arranged.
The length of stay varies from one to eleven years according to the child's physical defect, and
the aim is rehabilitation from hospital to ordinary school life. Children are placed in employment with the
co-operation of the youth employment officer after a conference with the parents, head teacher and school
medical officer.