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121
Bedelsford School. Grange Road. Kingston
Thanks are expressed to Miss G. H. Campbell, Headmistress,
for the following report:
The school caters for physically handicapped children from
2½ - 18 years and there are currently 76 children on roll, an increase
on the last few years. Handicaps present are:
Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus
Cerebral Palsy
Muscular Dystrophy
Cardiac
Cerebellar Ataxia
Hydrocephalus
Hemiplegia and Epilepsy
Arthrogryphosis
Still's Disease
Achondroplasia & Hydrocephalus
Myositis Ossificans
Hirschsprung's Disease
Congenital absence abdominal wall
TOTAL
30
34
13
3
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
76
The high incidence of Spina Bifida cases has maintained at
the same level as last year - approximately 40 per cent of the school
roll. Of the 30 cases, 29 are doubly incontinent and the nursing and
personal care of these children requires a high level of welfare provision.
Fifteen children are receiving speech therapy, 2 children are
partially hearing and are visited weekly by a peripatetic teacher of
the deaf. Seven children are additionally handicapped with epilepsy.
Work on the final phase of the rebuilding programme should start
in the autumn, 1973 and will provide the school with much needed accommodation
for speech therapy, physiotherapy and hydrotherapy. The completion
of this project will then release additional class space, enabling a
further increase in the size of the school.
An additional class was opened in September, 1972, making
improved provision for the younger children who form the greater proportion
of the school roll. During the year a new school library has
been set up. A close link has also been established with the Kingston
Polytechnic whose students visit weekly to take part in youth club
activities with the senior ohildren.