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63
WOODFIELD SPECIAL DAY SCHOOL FOR EDUCATIONALLY SUB-NORMAL PUPILS
This school is in a modern building of rather unusual design, situated in pleasant surroundings on
the banks of the Welsh Harp Reservoir.
During the year, there were 38 admissions and 41 discharges from this school of 200 pupils. In
addition, two children were transferred to the new Catholic School that opened at Golders Green. As a
result the waiting list for Woodfield diminished, and by the end of the year, it was possible to admit a pupil
needing this kind of education, without any delay.
Routine medical inspections were carried out a year after admission, between the ages of 12 and 13
and prior to a child leaving school. 72 children were examined during the year, and the general standard of
health and hygiene were found to be high. No formal health education talks were given but the teaching
staff stressed the ideas of health and hygiene whenever an opportunity occurred. Attendances at eye and
dental clinics were arranged, at the Medical Officer's request, through the school, and special transport took
pupils from the school to the appropriate clinic.
A Speech Therapist continued to visit the school and gave individual instructions to those pupils
who were referred to her.
A number of pupils had reading difficulties and there were remedial reading classes formed at the
latter part of the year.
There was an improvement in the physical activities at the school. The football team was re-started
during this year and a cricket team built up.
LOWER PLACE SCHOOL FOR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED PUPILS
This Day School for Physically Handicapped Pupils is in Barretts Green Road, Harlesden.
During the year this school contained 90 pupils (26 left the school and 26 were admitted).
The pupils had the advantage of individual attention due to the small classes and could progress at a
rate suited to their ability and physical handicap.
Medical inspections were usually held once a fortnight and all pupils were seen routinely every six
months. A full time school nurse was employed at the school. A Consultant Ophthalmologist held sessions at
the school and an Orthoptist visited the school when required. A Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon visited the
school regularly to supervise those children with orthopaedic defects. Two full time Physiotherapists worked
under his directions at the school. Selected children were taken regularly by the Physiotherapists to a swimming
class at nearby baths.

NEASDEN AUDIOLOGY UNIT
This unit is situated within the Neasden Health Clinic and consists mainly of a sound-proofed medical
examination room and sound-proof room for audiometry. During the year under review improvements were
made in the sound-proofing by further treatment to the walls, a better system of double glazing and the installation
of a silent ventilating system that could deliver hot or cold air.
The unit serves the needs of Brent and the neighbouring Boroughs of Harrow and Barnet. In 1965
69 children were seen from Harrow, 90 from Barnet, 131 from Brent. Due to the large number of referrals
the waiting list was long but cases needing priority were seen within a fortnight. Efforts to obtain extra
specialist sessions at the unit were unsuccessful during this year, but firm arrangements were made for extra
sessions to commence from the 1st April, 1966.