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53
many children of poor intelligence and visual acuity of 6/18 will
fall behind their contemporaries and would benefit in early school
years by special school.
"I have to acknowledge my appreciation of the efforts of the
teaching and welfare staff on behalf of the children in the school.
"During the year the average number on roll was 42.8 with
an average attendance of 38.0."
(d) School for the Physically Handicapped.—Mr. G. M.
Williams, Headmaster of Wingfield House School for the Physically
Handicapped, reports as follows :—
"The average attendance during the year has been well up
on the general average of previous years, showing that the health
of the children has been well maintained.
"There has been a distinct but subtle change in the type of
case admitted to the school, this being in keeping with the change
of title from Hale End Open Air School to Wingfield House School
for the Physically Handicapped. There are now no cases of
tuberculosis contacts or tuberculosis glands, and only one of 'joints
in the school; there are no cases of children suffering from maLnutrition.
The chief cause of referral is now mainly respiratory—
asthma, bronchitis and bronchiectasis, and an increasing number of
children suffering from nervous conditions aggravated by minor
physical disabilities. This latter group are usually extremely back'
ward educationally. A recent survey of intellectual assessment gave
a mean I.Q. of 87 for 47 in the school.
"Three of the classrooms have had their folding doors, which
opened to the weather, replaced by conventional fixed walls with
sash windows, giving the benefit of fresh air and sunshine in better
weather and providing more adequate protection against draughts
in cold inclement weather. All classrooms were decorated
internally and externally during the summer.
"The Chingford Jubilee Retreat Centre was used sporadically
by all classes during the period May to September, taking the
advantage of free activity in the forest as the occasion arose.
"During the summer holiday period the school was opened as
usual on a voluntary basis, and an attendance of 91 per cent, was
maintained. Visits were made to Thorpe Bay, Whipsnade Zoo,
London Airport and to the forest, which gave the period a home
holiday flavour.
Miss Smith, the Educational Psychologist, made four visits
during the year for the purpose of examination and advice, and
Mr. Berry, Youth Employment Officer, interviewed all leavers.