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Special infants unit
The special unit has continued under Mrs
Richardson (formerly Miss Mace) with the
excellent co operation of the head teacher. Miss
Mason at Isleworth Town school It was found
to be extremely difficult to place children who
grow too old for the unit The combination of
epilepsy and maladjustment does not fit our
present provision In all cases the future place
ment of the children in this class will remain a
major problem
The school counselling service
Mr W Lawe was appointed as school
counsellor to Meston and Lampton schools. Two
school counsellors are now at work in the
borough and a third is expected to be appointed
in 1969 In the schools the counseIlors who
are directly responsible to the head teachers
carry out useful work in educational vocational
and personal guidance From, the point of view
of the schooi psychologists they act as
essential link men between the centre and the
schools Close liaison is maintained by regular
monthly meetings between the psychologists and
counsellors
~Jucutional social workers
Mrs G Gaastra educational social worker,
has nov/ loft the service It was decided to
delay advertising this post because of the
accommodation difficulties at the child guidance
centre Mrs A Grigg has combined duties as a
remedial teacher with helping parents since she
is a trained probation officer Fifty nine families
were referred to her twenty three children from
these families attend the remedial centres
special classes and the child guidance centre.
Persistent non attendance
The working party reported to the chief
education officer on the problem of non-attendance
in secondary schools Many of the recommenda
tions made have since been implemented and
others are under consideration
A co ordinating committee and two working
groups were set up to carry out further work on
the problem These groups meet once monthly
both to formulate interdisciplinary policy with
regard to non-attenders and to discuss individual
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cases. All interested persons, including teachers
are invited to the groups.
Meetings with education welfare officers
A number of meetings have been held with
education welfare officers in an effort to consider
the complex problem of children who do not attend
school. These have been successful in many ways,
giving the psychologists considerable insight into
the complexities of the role of the education
welfare officer, and it is hoped, providing the
education welfare officer with realistic idea of
what the child guidance service can achieve and
what are its limitations.
Summary conclusions
The policy for the year has been to greatly
extend communication, liaison and co-operation
among all who deal with problem children by
holding regular meetings at the child guidance
centre. It is hoped to further develop this coordination
between teachers, psychologists and
social workers. Grateful thanks are due to Mr
P J Lee and the education department and Dr.
R L Lindon and the medical department for all the
help and encouragement the service has received