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run by the National Association for Mental
Health for staff of junior training schools
and special care units. Doctors clinics are
also attended by the physiotherapist.
Speech therapy in junior training schools
Report by Mrs D E Cox, Senior Speech
Therapist
'There has been little change during the year
in the provision of speech therapy at the
junior training schools
At both schools the time allocated is two
sessions per week and as the staff room is
used in both places, there are periods during
the day when the room is not available
Students attend at both schools, one at
Isleworth, a second year student from the
Oldrey-Fleming School of Speech Therapy
Hampstead, and two second year students
from the Oldrey Fleming School at Hanworth.
These students work under supervision but
are able to take children alone at this stage
of their training so that a few more can
receive speech therapy, once the assessment
and planning have been carried out by the
speech therapist
The general allocation of time has been
the same:-
Assessment of speech and language levels
If possible all new entrants should be seen
At present most are seen, but cases are
undoubtedly seen first where there has been
previous recommendation paental pressure
or by special request of the teachers
Treatment
When assessment has been carried out
children may be judged as suitable for
treatment, or to be kept under supervision
The latter category concerning children too
immature to have reached a stage where
speech therapy would be of benefit, or
children whose retarded speech appears to
be on a level with their general development
Those receiving treatment may be seen
in a small group or individually according to
their needs The small amount of time available
once a week is insufficient for this
work and as a result children are treated too
infrequently and for too short a time Under
ideal conditions twelve children a day can
be seen individually by a speech therapist.
During periods when the room is not available
numbers are reduced although there are
some thirty five children requiring treatment
at Hanworth and more than twenty at Isleworth
Since so much language stimulation is
needed and done in the class it was thought
that a regular weekly session with each class
would benefit the teacher, speech therapist
and children This was started during the
year but only in a limited and irregular way,
due to lack of time
Liaison with Parents
As children are seen in school there is less
contact with parents than one would wish but
it is hoped that this can be improved next year
Summary
1 Assessment of all children's speech and
language is carried out where possible,
2 Treatment is individual and/or group,
students assisting in dealing with the numbers.
Progress is seen, this being more marked where
regular practice can be carried on by teachers.
3 Class language stimulation is carried out
if time
4 There is too little contact with parents at
present - a common complaint when working in
a school
It is felt that the speech therapist can play
a valuable role in the junior training school,
assessing language levels and individual speech
problems as well as treating these However
more time is needed to give greater frequency
of treatment and flexibility of working She
should also be regarded as a member of the
school team and not just a peripatetic visitor
to individual children
Acton Lodge Adult Training Centre
The trainees at this centre are now reaping the
full benefit of the variety of training made
available in the new building. After many early
technical problems the training laundry is now
operating smoothly and efficiently and approximately
700 pieces are being laundered each
week for various health department establishments
I am greatly indebted to the technical
help given voluntarily by the manager of a well
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