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35
Ophthalmic Clinics
One of the earliest of the treatment services provided by Education
Authorities was the provision of spectacles for those pupils needing
them. Children with a low visual acuity in either or in both eyes and
those suffering from symptoms apparently referable to their eyes found
at the school clinics or at the routine or other school medical inspections
are referred to the ophthalmic surgeon. Sessions are held at the Marlborough
Hill clinic on Wednesday afternoons and Friday mornings and
at the Alexandra Avenue clinic on Thursday mornings. Up to 1948 the
Education Authority arranged for the surgeons' prescriptions to be
made up, often a charge being made to the parents for the glasses. Since
1948 the procedure is that the child takes the prescription to an optician
who then provides the glasses.
Arrangements are made to keep those children who have had glasses
under observation.
The ophthalmic surgeons at the clinic are now on the staff of the
Regional Hospital Board.
Although pupils attending maintained schools can take advantage
of these arrangements, and it is only for them that this service is available,
they can if they like take advantage of the arrangements open to
any member of the public, the first step in this case being that they attend
their own doctors.
The deflection of a squinting eye can sometimes be straightened
by exercises. Miss Watling, a whole-time orthoptist, treats children in
this way at the Marlborough Hill clinic.
Special Schools
There are certain groups of children for whom, because of mental or
physical defect, special educational arrangements have to be made.
These are the handicapped pupils. Of the mentally retarded those with
higher intelligence quotients can satisfactorily attend ordinary schools,
receiving there special educational treatment. Those of lower intelligence,
but who nevertheless are educable, attend special schools for the
educationally subnormal. These may be day or residential schools.
The Shaftesbury School in this district is such a day special school
accepting 60 educationally subnormal pupils. Pupils from this area
who because of physical defect need to be educated in special day schools
are admitted to the Lower Place School for Physically Handicapped
Pupils in Willesden. Children who are partially deaf or partially sighted
may be suitably educated at a special day school. Those from this
district might attend such a school maintained by the Middlesex County
Council or by the London County Council. Those more severely
handicapped are admitted to residential schools, as are also those who
are maladjusted. There are no day schools near this district to which
delicate pupils can be admitted. Any pupils recommended for special
education on these grounds are admitted to residential schools.
Child Guidance Centre
For many years the County Council maintained a Child Guidance
Chnic at 2, St. John's Road, Harrow, under the administrative control of