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To unify this system would surely increase the
flexibility of its functions and lead to greater
mobility within its boundaries.
With the rise in numbers of multiplyhandicapped
children, there will be increased
demands for suitable provisions for them, and
this in turn will call for modification of the
various categories of special schools. Following
the Rubella epidemic of 1962, more deaf-blind
units have come into being to contain and help
these children, born afflicted as a result of their
mothers' ante-natal infection. More help is
needed though, for such as the partially-sighted
children with speech defects, and for the delicate
ones who have specific learning problems. The
comprehensive special school may well be the
formula for the future'.
References
1. Tansley and Gulliford, The Education of
Slow Learning Children, London.
Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1960.
2. Report of the Working Party for the British
Council for Rehabilitation of the Disabled,
The Handicapped School Leaver, 1963.
Townhill Park (Southampton)
This residential school for educationally subnormal
girls has accommodation for 55 pupils.
A school medical officer visits the school twice a
year for a general inspection of kitchens,
dormitories, etc, to discuss medical problems
with the Matron and general progress of pupils
with the Head Teacher.
Aftercare of handicapped pupils
Case conferences are called by the head teachers
of the special schools and the Principal School
Medical Officer concerned to discuss the special
problems which arise when handicapped children
reach school leaving age. The Youth Employment
Officer and representatives of the Welfare
Department attend, and, where appropriate, those
representing voluntary organisations such as the
Spastic Society and Fellowship for Poliomyelitis
are also invited. Arrangements are fully discussed
with the parents and where assistance from the
Ministry of Labour's scheme for disabled persons
is required this is arranged by the Youth
Employment Officer.
Martindale School is fortunate in having a
further education unit which is attended largely
by its pupils who could not be satisfactorily
placed on reaching the age of 16.
There remain always some children who are so
severely handicapped that no employment is
possible, and for these particularly the Welfare
Department is able to provide help.
Education otherwise than at school
Consideration is given to providing home tuition
to handicapped children awaiting admission to
special schools, children having a long
convalescence following acute illness, and others
who for some specific reason may not be able to
attend ordinary schools. Two children were
provided with home tuition during the year.
No hospital special schools are provided at
hospitals within the Borough but arrangements
are made for children to have tuition in the wards
at West Middlesex Hospital.
Children excluded from school as unsuitable
No formal decisions were recorded under Section
57 of the Education Act, 1944, excluding
children as unsuitable for education in school, nor
were any reviews conducted under the provisions
of Section 57A or any decisions cancelled under
Section 57A(2).
Four children, however, were found unsuitable
to attend either ordinary or special schools and
these were dealt with informally. Similarly one
child dealt with informally was re-admitted to a
special school.
Medical and dental inspection and treatment of
children excluded from school as unsuitable
The medical and dental facilities are available to
the severely sub-normal children attending the
two junior training schools in the same way as
for those attending ordinary schools. A
physiotherapist attends each school about once a
week to give treatment to those children in the
special care units who additionally have severe
physical handicaps, principally cerebral palsy.
A speech therapist attends Isleworth Junior
Training School once a week to treat a few
selected cases and to instruct the staff in the
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