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culties ahead and early progress is encouraging. The third boy was returned to his Junior School
since his condition for entry into St. Michael's had much improved and his attendance there was
no longer justified.
St. Michael's School for Physically Handicapped Children, Eastcote
Mr. Thornton has kindly sent the following report on this school:
Since January 1972 St. Michael's has been operating as a day school, catering mainly for
children of primary school age. Six pupils have left St. Michael's during the course of the last
calendar year. Two boys, aged 12 were transferred to secondary schools; one boy, aged seven, to a
primary school and one boy to Lingfield Hospital School. One boy was transferred to Shaftesbury
Residential School and one girl was transferred to Martindale School, Hounslow. The number on
the school roll has risen from 26 last year to 36, closure of the boarding unit having made extra
teaching space available.
St. Michael's now has a school library, which operates as a lending library to the pupils.
Functions during the last academic year have included a party for staff, parents, pupils and
younger brothers and sisters, held in St. Lawrence Church Hall; a sports day; a school fete; a fireworks
party for staff, parents and pupils; the archery club championships and barbecue; a school
Christmas party; Christmas concert and plays and a joint carol service with Newnham Junior
School. We have also had educational visits to the Tower of London, Syon Park, Ruislip Woods and
a local farm.
The School Club Room Fund now stands at £3,300 and I hope to be inviting visitors to the
opening within the near future. Our school film is now completed. This is the result of over four and
a half hours of cine film shots during the course of the last 2½ years. It has been edited down to
approximately one and a half hours running time and sound has been added. This film and the
equipment used to shoot it and screen it all came from the school funds. The aims of the film are
many and varied, but one of the most important is to inform parents, prospective parents and sections
of the public who show interest.
(I) Speech Defect
In residential schools 1
In ordinary schools and receiving speech therapy 55
Children ascertained in 1972 4
The reduction of the number of children who are placed on the handicapped pupils register in
this category compared with 1971 is to be expected following the discussion in last year's annual
report (page 160).
Before inclusion on the handicapped pupils register two criteria must be satisfied. Firstly the
speech defect should produce a substantial handicap and be having or be likely to have a significant
effect upon a child's education in school; and secondly the condition should be likely to be present
for at least twelve months.
The number of children referred to the speech therapists is no fewer than in previous years as
has been notified in the report of the speech therapy service. There is a waiting list of children for
treatment. Many of the speech defects are of a minor character usually a tardiness in acquiring
certain sounds; otherwise the language of these children is usually normal.
(J) Delicate
In residential schools 13
Pre-school children placed in day nursery 5
In day special schools 7
Pre-school children recommended for ordinary school 1
In day special classes 1
Receiving home tuition 4
In ordinary schools with some variation of education 214
Children ascertained in 1972 44
165