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170
SPECIAL DAY SCHOOLS FOR EDUCATIONALLY
SUB-NORMAL CHILDREN
Goddington School, Orpington
In 1968, 28 children left the School either to gain employment
or to move to other areas. There were 27 admissions this maintained
the school roll at 135.
The medical work at the School continued on the same lines
as previously. The Medical Officer, working as a member of the
team and the traditional routine "medical" was replaced by either
special examinations for medical or social reasons or by "total"
assessment of the pupil.
There were 28 such ascertainments carried out in 1968. In
addition, 7 statutory Section 57 examinations took place, two of
them at the child's home. There were also 5 psychometric testings
and 6 physical examinations carried out at the request of the
teaching staff.
Speech Therapy recommenced in September, 1968, and is
already bearing fruit.
Swimming proved to be a very popular activity and many
children are now able to swim as a result of the sustained efforts
by the staff. The Headmaster of Warren Road Junior School,
Mr. Lancaster, very kindly allowed the Goddington children to
use the swimming pool at his school.
As the object of special education must be to fit the child
for an independent life and employment, the visits to factories
and business premises in the area have continued and have
played a valuable part in helping the older children to decide on
a career. The benefits from such visits are consolidated by a visit
from the Youth Employment Officer to discuss the work aspects
in some depth. It is, therefore, to the credit of the Youth Employment
Officer as well as to the School that 21 boys and girls who
left school in 1968, remain in successful employment. The links
with the immediate community have increased and consolidated.
The nearby Ramsden Secondary School sent their senior
boys to help with the apparatus, etc. Through this link there
are now prospects of the Ramsden school leavers taking up a
career in teaching, their interest having been aroused through
regular visits to Goddington where they involved themselves with
the younger children.
The immediate community helps further through the Friends
of Goddington School Association which has been very active in
1968, organising a Summer Fete and a Christmas Fair, these two
activities contributing a substantial sum of money towards
Goddington Swimming Pool Fund.