London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Walthamstow 1957
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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49
such children should not be the responsibility of the Local Health
Authority but should remain within the sphere of activity of the
Education Authority until the age of 16 years.
The Borough Education Officer and the Borough School
Medical Officer outlined the general position regarding ineducable
children and gave details of the number living in the Borough and
of the Occupation Centres provided by the Health Authority for
their welfare and training.
Classes for Illiterates.—The Borough Education Officer
circularised Head Teachers in August stating that once again an
evening class was being arranged for illiterates and backward
readers, and help was requested in bringing it to the notice of any
such persons.
As before, the class was limited to persons over school age, and
although intended primarily for young people, other adults could
be accepted. Classes were free and conducted by the Educational
Psychologist.
Walthamstow Special Schools.—The number of children in the special schools in Walthamstow at the end of 1957 were as follows:—
| Partially Sighted | E.S.N. | Physically Handicapped | Deaf | Total | Percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walthamstow | 5 | 103 | 58 | 6 | 172 | 61.21 |
| Forest | 7 | 4 | 22 | 15 | 48 | 17.08 |
| Middlesex | 12 | — | 1 | 1 | 14 | 4.98 |
| Romford | 5 | — | — | 5 | 10 | 3.56 |
| Leyton | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 3.56 |
| Ilford | 2 | — | — | 8 | 10 | 3.56 |
| Dagenham | 4 | — | — | 2 | 6 | 2.13 |
| South Essex | 5 | — | — | 2 | 7 | 2.49 |
| Barking | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 0.71 |
| East Ham | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 0.36 |
| Cheshunt | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 0.36 |
| Totals | 42 | 108 | 84 | 47 | 281 | 100.00 |
The number of Walthamstow children in residential special
schools and homes at the end of the year were as follows:—
Maladjusted 2
Delicate 2
Educationally Subnormal 5
Blind 5
Epileptic 4
Deaf 1
Speech 1
Physically Handicapped 2