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(c) Mentally Defective.
Fifteen mentally defective children from Wood Green were in
attendance at the Joint Special School for Mental Defectives at
Finchley during the year. The degree of mental defect present in
these children varies greatly, but the majority can be classed as
high grade defectives. The school is visited and the children
inspected by the School Medical Officer at regular intervals and
some of these children, particularly the high grade defectives, make
quite considerable progress. Five children classed as mental
defectives were attending ordinary elementary schools, and two
private schools. These children would all do very much better
at the Special School, but it is difficult to convince the parents of
this, and many parents have a strong prejudice against their defective
child being sent to a school for defectives. Four mentally defective
children were not attending any school, but for these and for older
mental defectives from Wood Green and neighbouring districts an
Occupation Centre is provided in Shropshire Hall, Gladstone Avenue,
by the Central Association for Mental Welfare. The Occupation
Centre is in my opinion a very useful institution which provides
interesting and useful occupation for a large number of unfortunates
for whom no other provision is made. The defectives are kept
under regular medical supervision, and treatment of their dental
defects and minor ailments is arranged for at the School Clinic.
(d) Epileptics.
Two children suffering from severe epilepsy are on the special
register. One of these was able to attend school for part of the
year, and has recently been sent to an Epileptic Colony. The other
has been quite unable to attend school.
15.—NURSERY SCHOOLS.
There is no Nursery School in Wood Green, but classes are
held in two of the Infant Departments, for children under school age.
These classes meet a very definite need, and provide a healthy
environment during the day for a number of children whose home
circumstances are not too good.
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