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45
1. All children failing to make normal progress in school are
referred by Head Teachers to the School Medical Officer.
Where physical factors may be contributory the child is first
medically examined at a School Clinic. Otherwise, or subsequently,
an intelligence assessment is made by the Educational Psychologist.
Those children considered unsuitable for normal schooling,
either because of mental dullness or for any other reason are
referred for examination, if necessary on Form 2 H.P. by the
approved Examining Medical Officer.
Pre-school children who have shown any retardation of
development are reported from the Infant Welfare Clinics, or by
the Health Visitors and are placed on a pre'handicapped register.
Children on this register are constantly reviewed with the object
of ensuring their correct placement when of appropriate age.
2. In addition to pupils of low intellectual ability those show
ing specific difficulties, e.g., with reading, and those who are
excessively timid are placed in the Special School so far as vacancies
permit. In the latter two cases every effort is made to fit them
for return to normal school as quickly as possible.
Undue reliance is not placed on the actual intelligence quotient,
very careful consideration being given to the child's ability to make
progress, even slowly, in a normal school although failure to do so
may be due to emotional immaturity rather than inherent mental
defect. It is not possible to admit to the Special School for the
E.S.N, all pupils who might benefit since the accommodation available
is for only approximately 100.
3. No application for residential placement is made for
educationally sub-normal pupils unless there is some additional
factor such as severe epilepsy or maladjustment present to such
degree as to make it impracticable for them to attend the day
Special School.
(b) Physically Handicapped Children.
Subsequently the arrangements were reviewed in regard to
special educational treatment of such children, especially those
suffering from cerebral palsy, and the following report was made:—
1. Spastics on Register—
(a) School age 17
(b) Pre-school 1
Of the 17 school-age children, 11 are additionally handicapped
either by speech defect, perceptive defect or mental
retardation and three have been notified as ineducable.