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(G) Maladjusted
In residential schools 31
In day special schools 47
In day special classes 7
Attending ordinary schools 6
Children ascertained in 1972 32
Ninety-one children are ascertained on the handicapped pupils register as maladjusted. This
represents a fraction of the children who are referred to the child guidance clinics at Uxbridge and
Hayes in the year. Many of these children are sent initially to school clinics for the school medical
officer's opinion by headteachers who have had presented to them difficulties in the child's behaviour
or attitude to school discipline and staff. Some of the emotional problems could no doubt be dealt
with at this level provided that the school medical officer felt sufficiently competent in knowledge
and experience to undertake a supportive role to the family and to give treatment to the child. Although
contact with the Child Guidance Clinic is easy and direct consultation is possible with the child
psychiatrist, it is frequently a matter of regret that individual work loads make close contacts very
difficult to achieve. It has been suggested elsewhere that if the child psychiatrist could give more
time to training, consultation and advice to the doctors in direct contact with children and their
families thus broadening the scope of work available to the medical officer and relieving the strain
on the Child Guidance Clinic of the big task of sifting through the cases presented to it, allocating
priorities and arranging numerous investigations, a better and quicker service could be offered to
these children and their families.
There are two day schools for the education of the maladjusted pupil in this Borough.
Chantry Special School
Mr. Cambell, Headmaster has very kindly sent the following report on Chantry School:
We had 43 on roll at the end of the year, 38 boys and 5 girls—24 new children joined us and
15 left during the year, 5 went back to normal school, the rest to work. Only one boy left not able to
be placed in suitable employment.
We now accept children aged 8 to 16 years including some very aggressive youngsters. The
educational level ranges from the non-reader to the boy who has obtained seven "0" level passes.
We have continued with our many out-door activities with successful camping, hostelling and
canoeing trips. Our float in this year's Hayes Carnival earned us a first prize. This year our open
evening was attended by most parents and many friends.
Townsend House Day Special School for Maladjusted Children
I am grateful to Mrs. J. M. Clarke for the following report:
We had a considerable movement of children in this small school during the year. Overall
7 children were admitted and 8 left. The leavers were placed as follows:
2 boys and 1 girl returned to normal school
3 older boys were transferred to Chantry School
1 boy was transferred to Hedgewood School
1 boy was placed in a boarding school.
Our roll at the end of the year was sixteen, 13 boys and 3 girls; this will gradually increase as
there are a number of children under consideration for entry.
We have had several staff changes this year, leaving us with one vacancy, but we are hoping to
appoint a new teacher at the beginning of the Easter term. Despite staff changes we have seen some
gratifying progress in the children in our care. The majority of the children have achieved considerable
social adjustment. The withdrawn children have learnt to laugh and play with others whilst the
aggressive ones have found a degree of self control, which has enabled them to reach a higher standard
of attainment in their school work.
We have been helped and supported in our work throughout the year by Dr. Urquhart and
members of the child guidance team who are regular visitors to the school.
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