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26
REPORT OF THE EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST
FOR 1953
Miss E. M. Smith, M.A., contributes the following:—
As in previous years I have been concerned with both the
clinical and educational aspects of the work in Walthamstow and
Chingford areas. The following figures refer to Walthamstow
only.
In all, 221 individual tests were given to children, and nonverbal
group tests of intelligence were administered in three schools.
Request for individual tests came largely from Head Teachers, but
Psychiatrists, School Medical Officers, Youth Employment Officers,
Probation Officers and Speech Therapists have also asked for estimates
of children's intelligence.
It should be pointed out that among the group of children who
came within the E.S.N. range, only 14 were attending the appropriate
school, 10 had physical handicaps for which they were placed
in Physically Handicapped schools and three were under school age.
The majority, forty, were seen in normal schools.
During the year 107 visits were made to schools, 28 of which
were directly concerned with clinic cases, the remainder with educational
problems in school. Twelve children were referred for treatment
at the Child Guidance Clinic. Fifty-four tests were given at
the clinic to children referred for treatment. Four tests were given
to children in their own homes.
Fourteen children were given individual remedial teaching in
reading or arithmetic, and in all 147 such lessons were given. A
survey of the reading ability of children leaving Secondary Modern
Schools was made in July, as part of a County survey, and this was
followed in Walthamstow by a similar survey for children leaving
school in December. These surveys enabled me to recommend
children leaving school with poor reading attainment to attend the
special group organised by the Youth Employment Officer.
A course of lectures on "Teaching Backward Readers in Junior
Schools" was given in the autumn term. This was very well
attended by teachers from a wide area. In co-operation with the
Physical Education Organiser a course of lecture-demonstrations was
given to unqualified people in charge of classes in Infants' schools
on the basic principles of education. During the year talks were