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between ideal and actual is a general difficulty in Child Guidance
Clinics and tends to reduce the value of the service to the community,
but doubtless the Committee would wish to know the present
position in the Walthamstow Child Guidance Clinic.
The large increase in referral through School Medical Officers
compared with previous years' figures indicates that School Medical
Officers are making increasing use of the facilities offered.
In this particular branch of children's work, the co-operation
of other workers and agencies is essential. We do appreciate the
very willing and generous way in which this has been given.
The outstanding events of the year, the rocket attacks till the
end of March, cessation of hostilities in Europe and the return of
families and children from evacuation, and, towards the end of the
year, the return of many fathers from the Services, have been to
some extent reflected in the problems dealt with by the Clinic.
In July of this year a second psychiatric session commenced,
owing to the increasing number of children referred, whose problems
required a complete examination. As before, throughout the year
the Clinic has attempted to provide diagnostic, advisory and treatment
facilities for the children of the Borough.
In 1946 facilities for a third psychiatric session have been
granted and for this the staff are very grateful as it will enable
the Clinic to come nearer achieving its purpose of providing advice
and treatment for the problem children of the Borough.
(vii) Speech Therapy.-Miss I. M. S. Knight, Speech
Therapist reports as follows:—
"Speech defect cases rose in number during the first part of 1945
until there were 364 on roll. Forty-five cases were discharged
before the summer holidays, 48 cases were discharged or left school
between August and December leaving 271 cases on roll at the end of
the year. During the year stammering increased particularly
amongst infant children. In December there were 90 cases of
infant stammerers, 36 junior and 12 senior cases. Pressure of work
became so great that cases for treatment had to be refused except in
very exceptional circumstances. The need for assistance became
very apparent, and to my very great disappointment assistance was
not available. Each child could only be treated once every
fortnight in spite of the fact that classes were very large and the
individual need of the child became difficult, but a fair amount of
progress was maintained. I could not have achieved anything like
success during the difficult war years and afterwards but for the