View report page

138
The problem of providing remedial help for children with severe
reading difficulties, frequently described as "dyslexic" or "word blind",
has proved particularly difficult to solve. These children are frequently well
above average intelligence but have specific difficulties relating to reading
skill, and frequently spelling, which require intensive individual remedial
teaching. For this reason, four such children have been referred to the
Word Blind Centre in London and three of them are receiving tuition, and
all are responding to the help available there. (The fourth child is on their
waiting list). The Senior Educational Psychologist is at present teaching
two such children individually and others are included in the remedial
teaching programmes of the other two psychologists and the specialist
teacher.
(5) Teaching Groups at the Child Guidance Centre:
We have been fortunate in obtaining the services of Mrs. Newton as
teacher. She works under the direction of the Senior Educational
Psychologist, but is also closely associated with the clinical work of the
Centre. The nature of the teaching groups tends to vary according to
changing needs. At present three groups meet regularly at the Centre:
(i) a group of phobic children who are unable to attend school. These
children, in addition to attending this group, may be receiving psychotherapy
while case-work is carried out with their parents. In addition to
individual case-work, a therapeutic group of five mothers meets weekly
with Miss Gray, Psychiatric Social Worker.
(ii) a group of children who come from unstable home backgrounds,
and who also have learning difficulties.
(iii) a group of children of secondary school age with persistent learning
difficulties.
In addition to these groups, Mrs. Newton also provides a limited
amount of individual teaching as well as seeing parents of children attending
any of her three main groups.
(6) Special Education:
(a) Shaftesbury Day Special School for E.S.N. Children:
No. of children admitted 18
(a) Ascertained 12
(b) Informal admission 6
(b) Elmers Court Residential School for Delicate Children:
Both full-time Educational Psychologists make periodic visits to the
school in order to discuss educational problems, suitable educational
techniques and materials, etc.