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At Isleworth 19 children made 285 attendances
during the 37 sessions held, an average of 8 per
session, or 16 minutes per child per week. Since
18 children are on the register this is clearly
inadequate, and extra sessions have been allocated
for 1968.
At Hanworth 17 children made 400 attendances
during 72 sessions, approximately 6 children per
session, still showing inadequate time allowed,
and again to be improved in the coming year.
Physiotherapy—Report by Mrs J Biddle,
Superintendent Physiotherapist
Physiotherapy was available at junior training
schools in the borough to the extent of two
sessions per week at each of the two schools. At
Hanworth ten children received treatment during
the year and at the Isleworth school approximately
twelve children were treated. The majority of
children who received treatment were from the
special care units with a few from the ordinary
school representing together a number of varying
disabilities. In spite of there being no actual
treatment room available at either school, fairly
adequate programmes were carried out by using
treatment mats on the floor of the assembly halls
and the available furniture and educational toys.
In addition a number of home visits were made
during the year.
Adult Training Centres
Acton Lodge Adult Training Centre
The demolition of the old part of this centre
started in June and the erection of the new
building was well advanced at the end of the
year. It was necessary to make alternative
arrangements for some of the trainees attending
Acton Lodge. With the helpful co-operation of
the Industrial Therapy Organisation (Thames) Ltd
it was possible to arrange for 15 trainees to attend
there daily with their own instructor. It has
entailed a small reduction in income to the
borough as some of the best trainees were selected
to attend and the organisation retains the profit
from their labours as being their only
remuneration for this most useful temporary
facility. I am most grateful to all concerned that
this scheme has run very smoothly from the start.
The completion of the new building next year
is eagerly awaited. The laundry and domestic
science units will widen the scope of training
possible at the centre and the new activities room
will enable physical education and a wider range
of social activities and training than is at present
possible.
By arrangement with the Chief Education
Officer the services of a part time teacher in
sewing and soft furnishing became available from
July onwards. This is a most useful addition to
the activities for women trainees and supplements
the work of Mrs Kathleen Beer, part time teacher
of further education who was seconded to the
centre last year and who now reports as
follows: —
'Owing to the building of the new block it
became necessary to relinquish the spacious
classroom and, in common with the rest of the
staff, be prepared to fit in with changed conditions.
'On starting to teach trainees at Acton Lodge,
six was suggested as an ideal number for each
session of the class, but in order to benefit as
many trainees as possible this was increased to
nine. It is now considered that perhaps seven or
eight would be a better figure in order to give
more individual tuition.
'One was always up against the problem of
varying standards, however carefully one
endeavoured to place the trainees in the right
stream. There was always the difficulty of trainees
reading up to a standard of seven, and being
unable to add very simple sums.
'Each session has always included reading,
writing and arithmetic, and this has been varied
by the use of the telephone, the study of bus and
train time tables together with other subjects.
The trainees have been encouraged to develop an
interest in words. The approach to their studies
has been practical, but lately we have attempted
art.
'A great deal of attention was devoted to
personal appearance and it was felt that parents
could play a part in seeing that the trainees were
suitably dressed for their age—this particularly
applied to the girls. Stance and clarity of speech
were considered very important where possible.
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