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be provided either in the child's own school
or at the school psychological service clinic
alternative arrangements are considered but
it is interesting to note that in one case where
arrangements were made for a dyslexic child
to visit the Word Blind Centre in central
London the centre gave notice of impending
closure and subsequently explained that the
decision to close had been taken because it
was felt that remedial teaching could be best
provided by trained staff suitably equipped
in the child's own school.
Emotionally disturbed children
The special class for disturbed infants at
Isleworth Town School had to be discontinued
at the end of the Spring Term when the teacher
in charge resigned and despite repeated
advertisements it was not possible to find
a suitable replacement The lack of provision
for emotionally disturbed children of all ages
emphasises the borough's need for a day
school for maladjusted children and the
authority continues to seek approval for
inclusion of this project in an early building
programme.
Work with families
Social work with the parents of children with
learning and behaviour problems referred to
the school psychological service continued
and has become an essential part of the long
term work of the school psychological service
The amelioration of tensions in the home often
frees a child to take advantage of facilities
offered him in school thus contributing
directly to his improved functioning in class
Quick intervention by the psychologist in
the school si tuation and the social worker in
the home is often more effective than more
extensive help at a later date when the crisis
has subsided.
Summary of families in treatment
Cases
Carried over from 1969 38
New referrals 1970 55
Current 93
Working closely with (matrimonial
and crises work) 22
Visited 2 3 times a term or at
crises 46
Visited occasionally to maintain
contact for child's sake 25
Total 93
Of the 93 children
Individual remedial help at child
guidance clinic 13
Psychiatric assessment °2
Few education authorities have anticipated
the trend now widely accepted and practised in
the psychiatric and social work field of treating
the problem child in the context of his family
The Hounslow school psychological service is
thus somewhat unique in being so well equipped
to work effectively in this way.
School psychological service remedial department
The remedial department part time teachers
Mrs M A Kinnon and Mrs S Thrift who joined
the staff in September ha/e continued to provide
help for children who have failed not only in a
class situation but in the small remedial group.
These children have suffered through failure
and may have shown personality difficulties in
addition to academic ones A total of 27 children
are being seen individually. Ages range from
eight + to the non reader about to leave school
recommended by the probation officer and head
teacher for special help. One child has recently
transferred to the Marjory Kinnon School for
educationally subnormal children Three children
show marked symptoms of the specific develop
mental dyslexia syndrome and several have
visual and auditory difficulties.
All children show progress some very limited
in the initial period The greatest advance is in
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