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boys and 12 girls) are receiving boarding education or education whilst in hospitals for the mentally
sub-normal. One hundred and nine children were ascertained as educationally sub-normal during
1972 (59 boys and 50 girls); the total number of children in this category is now 433. This represents
just over 1 % of the total school population for Hillingdon. Five children are in ordinary schools for a
trial period and 4 have been recommended for special schools and are awaiting placement. Three
children of compulsory school age are not attending school yet, but they have been recommended
for special schooling and are awaiting placement at Moorcroft School where shortage of accommodation
is particularly severe. The lack of space has forced the speech therapists and physiotherapists
to accept very indifferent working conditions in order to try to treat the very handicapped
children.
Moorcroft School for ESN Pupils
I am indebted to Mr. W. D. Nicholas, Headteacher for the following report:
At the beginning of 1972 there were 124 children on the roll and during the year 13 left and
18 were admitted. The erection of a new classroom during the summer term made it possible to
admit 11 five year-olds. Our contacts with other schools in the Borough have increased and we are
now having regular visits from pupils from five secondary schools as part of their social studies
course.
Part of the policy of the school is to take the children out into the community as much as possible,
and numerous visits were made in the locality and further afield. One of the highlights was a visit by
the special care unit to Buckingham Palace to see the mounting of the guard.
Some of our senior children have become familiar figures to the shopkeepers and public in
Yiewsley and Uxbridge when they have gone on their regular shopping expeditions in preparation
for lessons in cooking. Throughout the year we have sent groups of children on Tuesday afternoons
to the Hayes Swimming Baths.
During 1973 we hope to extend our contacts with the Adult Training Centre and on 12th
January, our top two classes are having a social evening to which they have invited the residents of
the Bourne Hostel and Slough Hostel and the trainees of the Moorcroft Adult Training Centre.
We hope that by establishing closer links, the transfer of our children from school to work will be
much easier.
Our constant aim at the school is to encourage the acceptance of our children by the community.
Meadow School, Royal Lane, Hillingdon
Mr. Everett, Headteacher has kindly sent the following report:
Our roll is 152 plus 10 from the Ruislip Gardens diagnostic class which has been very successfully
held at this school for the last eighteen months.
Once again we have enjoyed a very full year. All children in the school have taken part in a
number of the many activities, such as camping, visiting theatres and exhibitions and travel abroad.
Recently, a large majority of the senior schools helped in a successful production of "Oliver" which
we presented at Christmas time to the old people of the neighbourhood.
We are again grateful to the senior specialist careers officer who has advised and helped in
placing our school leavers in employment.
The full and successful year has been made possible by the hard work of my staff who have all
given freely so much of their own time. I am most grateful.
Hedgewood Day Special School for Educationally Sub-Normal Pupils
I wish to thank Mr. 0. G. Best for the following report:
Hedgewood School continues to increase in size. We now have 140 children on roll.
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