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educationally sub-normal children
Wood field Special Day School
During 1968, Woodfield School has been full except in September when admissions were suspended
because of staffing problems. Throughout the year there was a waiting list and the majority of children on
this list were of secondary school age.
The increase in the need for places at Woodfield and particularly amongst children in the older age
groups has been obvious for some years and has necessitated the provision of more places for children with
learning difficulties. It is planned next year to have a separate junior school and to eventually double the
number of places available for this type of special schooling.
At the end of the year there were 198 children on roll, 60 of them of junior age and 138 seniors.
During the year there were 21 juniors and 31 seniors admitted and 46 children left the school, 4 returning to
ordinary school.
Medical inspections are carried out every two weeks during term time and these consist of routine
medical examinations together with special examinations requested by the staff or parents. For any further
treatment or investigations, referrals are made to General Practitioners or to Consultants at Hospitals with
the General Practitioner's permission. Children are referred by the local authority to Eye, Dental, Orthopaedic.
Ear, Nose & Throat and Audiology Clinics and these provide an excellent service for detection and treatment
of defects.
A Speech Therapist attends the school six sessions a week.
Health education is undertaken by the school nurse both in her personal contacts with the children
and in weekly classes.
Other Special Day and Residential Schools
22 Brent children attend other day schools for educationally sub-normal children at Montford House,
Golders Green, Oak Lodge School in East Finchley, Marjory Kinnon School in Feltham and Hedgewood
School, Hayes.
There are 23 Brent children placed at residential special schools—Townhill Park, Southampton, for
junior children, Swaylands School for Senior Boys in Kent, and Wavendon House for Senior Girls in Buckinghamshire.
We have some of our children placed in independent residential schools—St. Joseph's, Cranleigh, at
the Sheiling School in Bristol, at the Society of St. Bernardette in Surrey, at AH Souls', Hillingdon, at Besford
Court, Worcestershire, at Farm Hill House School in Gloucestershire, at Pontville Roman Catholic School
and at Bowden House.
epileptic pupils
Serious epilepsy presents considerable problems and residential schooling is usually necessary. Fortunately
with modern methods of treatment the majority of children can manage at ordinary schools, and the
occasional epileptic attack is not a problem. At the end of 1968, there were three boys attending Grove Park
School, and five children placed residentially at Lingfield Hospital School in Surrey. One boy is having home
tuition and another is not yet of school age and is attending a day nursery in Brent.
maladjusted children
The problem of maladjusted children is increasing in Brent and the number recommended for residential
placement has risen. At the end of 1968, there were 87 boys and 26 girls ascertained as maladjusted.
Of this number 73 are at residential schools for maladjusted children and at independent residential schools
accepting maladjusted children.
A number of children who were thought to be mildly maladjusted were placed at Brent's residential
school, Tylney Hall.
Barretts Green School
This school was established in September 1968, for children of secondary age who are maladjusted.
Owing to staffing difficulties the number of children admitted in the first term was limited, but the school can
accommodate 40 pupils.
Vernon House
A special educational unit for maladjusted children of infant and junior age, and not yet designated
a special school in 1968, is established at Vernon House. At present there are 30 children attending with one
infant and two junior classes. Housed also in the school is a special diagnostic class which will eventually be
part of a junior E.S.N, school. When this class has been moved, room will then be available for another class
for maladjusted children.
It is anticipated that as a result of the increase in Brent of facilities for day maladjusted schooling,
fewer places at residential schools will be needed in the future.
physically handicapped children
Grove Park School
After several delays due to building problems the school for physically handicapped children moved
at the end of the Easter term 1968 from Lower Place to the fine new building at Grove Park in Kingsbury.
This single-storey building, contemporary in design, provides light, spacious rooms and corridors and is set
in a most pleasant area. The playgrounds are on several levels and the landscaping around these areas is being
commenced and when completed will provide attractive outlooks for almost all classrooms.