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PARK PLACE SCHOOL, HENLEY-ON-THAMES
The Authority maintains a residential school for delicate pupils at Henley-on-Thames, and I am
grateful to Mr. Owen, the headmaster for the following report:
"The school can cater for 64 senior delicate boys.
The main building is a converted country mansion situated in a commanding position overlooking
the River Thames and the town of Henley. It is surrounded by sixty acres of ground. There
are ample facilities for games, field studies and outdoor activities.
The school has a rural science department, library, gymnasium, woodwork room, pottery
room and an indoor swimming pool. Classes are small permitting a greater degree of individual
attention. Remedial teaching and a programme of study learning to C.S.E. is provided. The main
aim of the school is to provide the boys with an environment in which they can learn to cope
with their disabilities both medical and emotional, and improve their academic standards.
A normal timetable is provided from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and there is a full range of evening and
weekend activities including photography, archery, rifle club, enamelling, woodwork, natural
history, football, cricket, swimming instruction, amateur radio, chess, model making, cookery,
pioneering club and scouts. Special instructors come to the school for music and judo.
The teaching staff comprises of the Headmaster, Deputy Headmaster and four qualified
teachers. The Headmaster and the teaching staff take an active part in school life outside the
classroom and are responsible for general supervision of the social and domestic life assisted by
four Housefathers and Matron.
There are two resident qualified Nurses and a local Doctor to provide a twenty-four hour
medical coverage. There is the usual contact with the Specialists and local Hospitals. A part-time
physiotherapist is employed. Night supervision is provided in the form of night supervisors on
duty all night through.
Visits are regularly made using the school bus to sporting fixtures, concerts, careers visits to
factories, etc. Special visits of three day duration were made to the International Eisteddford in
North Wales and a fortnight camp for the Scouts at Broadstone Warren in Surrey. This year another
visit to the Eisteddford is planned and the camp is arranged at La Baillaterie in Guernsey."
The handicaps of the 56 boys can be grouped as follows:
Asthma 49
Epileptic 1
Erbs Palsy 1
Haemophiliac 1
Osteomyelitis 1
Spastic Diplegia 1
Spina Bifida 1
Maladjusted 1
Multiple Defects
Residential schools 14
In day special schools 38
In day special classes 2
Nine children were ascertained in 1970. These children consist of those who have been
ascertained having more than one defect and the most disabling handicap is taken as priority for
educational purposes. These children after careful consultation are placed in the appropriate
educational setting and their progress reviewed at intervals of not less than one year.
CHRONICALLY SICK AND DISABLED PERSONS ACT, 1970
On 29th August, 1970, Sections 25, 26 and 27 of this Act came into force and placed a duty
on local education authorities with regard to the provision of special educational treatment, so far
as is practicable, for children suffering from the dual handicap of deaf-blindness, autism and
other forms of early childhood psychosis, and acute dyslexia.
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