London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Walthamstow 1951
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
This page requires JavaScript
25
previously in testing and reviewing educationally sub-normal
children. To make this quite evident a separate category has been
made for chidren with I.Q.s below 70. The larger proportion of
girls in this group is unusual.
Table IV.—Intelligence Rating.
| Boys | Girls | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Above Average I.Q. (116 + ) | 20 | 6 | 26 |
| Average I.Q. (86—115) | 69 | 19 | 88 |
| Dull (I.Q. 70—85) | 31 | 16 | 47 |
| E.S.N. (I.Q. less than 70) | 23 | 16 | 39 |
Provision for E.S.N. children continues to be inadequate. The
setting up of one or two special classes, under psychological
vision, to augment the work of the E.S.N. School, would mean
help for more children, and relief for teachers in normal schools.
(Note.—This matter is under consideration.)
Ninety-three children (72 boys, 21 girls) amongst those tested
individually by the Psychologist, were recommended for further
psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. Twenty-one were taken for
individual coaching in particular subjects, 17 for reading, three
for arithmetic and one for French.
Six or the boys helped in reading improved sufficiently during the year to be able to join in the work of their class. The improvement they showed is as follows:—
| Reading Age before coaching. | Reading Age at cessation of coaching. | |
|---|---|---|
| Boy A | 6.9 | 9.0 |
| B | 7.6 | 10.0 |
| C | 7.0 | 9.9 |
| D | 6.9 | 8.0 |
| E | 4.7 | 7.6 |
| F | 5.0 | 8.5 |
The rest of the group made slower but steady progress.
As far as possible, the Psychologist spends half her time in
schools, and during the year made 167 visits, allocated as follows
among the different type of schools:—
Infants' and Nursery 37
Junior 41
Secondary Modern 16
Grammar and Technical 6
Special Schools 20
Three children were visited in their homes.