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SPECIAL DAY SCHOOLS FOR EDUCATIONALLY SUB-NORMAL
CHILDREN
Goddington School, Orpington
Twenty children left during the year and 21 were admitted - the school roll
was maintained at 129.
The medical work continued as before with one session a week devoted to
"special" medicals and total reassessments of the children. Discussions with the
teaching staff and other agencies have continued in the spirit of frankness and
mutual confidence. The child and his family derived clear benefit from such
multi disciplinary approach.
Two teachers having left, Miss Davies and Mr. Hoey filled the resulting
vacancies.
The advent of the mini-bus described in the closing paragraph of the last
Report proved to be a milestone in the School's outside activities. Goddington
combined with Grovelands to borrow each other's buses so that two classes could
visit places of interest at any one time.
Swimming remains a popular activity throughout the year. Many children attend
Swanley Baths in the evenings, together with three Goddington Teachers who provide
lessons and supervision. The joint swimming pool project with Blenheim Junior
School is very near completion and it should be in use during the early part of the
Summer Term, 1970.
The Parents and Friends of Goddington School have raised nearly £2,400 towards
the cost of the pool - a truly magnificent effort from a small body of people.
The senior boys and the senior girls have extended their activities considerably.
Their two classrooms have been adapted and furnished so that the children
now regard themselves as young adults. Easy chairs, carpets, record players etc.,
have been installed. This was possible through the generosity of the Rotary Club
of Orpington and the Round Table Clubs of Orpington and Farnborough.
Thirty-two boys and girls have been in employment since the School opened in
1964. The children maintained a close contact with the School and some come to
spend a day at their old School. They are all well integrated socially and lead
a successful life.
Just as an ordinary school prepares a child for adult life, the Special
School has this task made more difficult through intellectual retardation, frequently
complicated by social and emotional problems of the children. In spite of the
difficulties, in 1969 as in the year before, Goddington has achieved its targets
and objectives.
St. Nicholas School, West Wickham
Number of Children on roll Boys 64
Girls 47
Total 111
Staff Headmaster
Deputy Head
9 Full time Assistant Teachers
1 Part time Teacher for Housecraft
3 Housemothers - 1 full time & 2 part time
with responsibility for welfare and social
training of the children
A routine annual inspection of every child in the school is arranged with
an appointment system so that parents can be present.
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