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One does get the impression that many of the referrals to Kilburn (well over twice as many as to
Kingsbury) are social problems that often cannot be helped by the Child Guidance Service.
The age distribution (Table 4) is much the same as previous years. It is naturally far easier for
children to be helped if they are referred as early as possible, whether it be for emotional or learning problems.
One is often surprised to have an older Secondary child referred for the first time and then to find a
difficulty which could have been delineated many years earlier.
As is usual, twice as many boys as girls were referred to the Child Guidance Centres. Also three
times as many boys as girls were admitted to Remedial Reading Centres.
Staff
During the whole year, the Kilburn Centre has had one P.S.W. short, out of an establishment of 2\.
This has hindered the investigation and treatment of Child Guidance referrals.
Immigration
At the beginning of the year Brent's school population consisted of 25% immigrants, most of these
being West Indian children. There is little doubt that a higher proportion of these children present problems
which impinge on the Child Guidance Service. If West Indian children come into the Borough, say, after the
age of nine, with very low educational attainments, it is very difficult to help the situation. Added to this,
one must emphasise that "intelligence" tests appear to give low results for this group, probably due to cultural
factors, Woodfield Day E.S.N. School has 44% immigrant children, and it is interesting to note that this
ratio of immigrant children in the E.S.N. School links up with the Inner London figure (13% all schools,
24% E.S.N. schools).
A recent I.L.E.A. educational research project pointed out that if immigrant children have a full
school career in Great Britain, their educational standards are not much different from indigenous children.
Many immigrant children are also referred for behaviour problems by the schools. If one bears in
mind the fact that they have to adjust to a new social and school environment and have frequently had a
long period of separation from their parents, this is not at all surprising. The typical boisterous, often aggressive
behaviour is not necessarily one that can be helped by the Child Guidance Service.
Exclusions from School
During 1968 there were 23 formal exclusions from Brent schools. The numbers were made up as
follows:—
Boys Girls Total
Infant 5 0 5
Junior 3 1 4
Secondary 7 7 14
Total - 15 8 23
Once again it is interesting to note that twice as many boys as girls are involved. Over half the
exclusions were adolescents who were considered by the head teachers to be too difficult to contain in school.
Some of these have been very decidedly emotionally disturbed children requiring further help. However, some
of them have not been psychiatric problems. It is to be hoped that such children may be referred and advice
sought before the extreme measure of exclusion becomes necessary.
Provision of Special Schools and Classes
In September, Barretts Green Secondary Mixed Day Special School was opened with Mr. Strong as
headmaster in the premises vacated by Lower Place Special School. At the same time, Mr. Staniland took up
his duties as headmaster of Vernon House Primary Mixed Day Special School. There has been great difficulty
in obtaining teaching staff for Barretts Green School. Both these schools deal with maladjusted children and
fulfil a long standing need in the Borough. However, these schools must not be regarded as "dumping grounds"
for children who are simply discipline problems in the ordinary classroom. Admission is dealt with by consultation
amongst the Child Guidance Service, the School Health Department and the head teachers. Nor
should these schools be regarded as "holding units", the aim must be to help these children with their difficulties
and eventually to reinstate these children back into ordinary schools. It is hoped to rearrange the sessions
of psychotherapists so that some psychotherapeutic time can be given to these schools.
A further Remedial Reading Class was opened at Lower Place School at the beginning of the year.
During the year 221 children attended one of the six Remedial Reading Centres in the Borough. A comprehensive
remedial reading library is being built up at Kilburn under the guidance of Mr. Rigby, and it is hoped
that teachers in the Borough will use it.
The Language Class, formerly at Mora Junior School, was incorporated in the new Language Centre
which opened in September, and admissions are being dealt with by Mr. Zemla, the modern languages adviser.
Liaison with Other Agencies
School Medical Officers continue to attend regular monthly conferences at Kilburn, and Mental Welfare
Officers attend regular monthly conferences at Kingsbury.
During the year a request was received from Mr. Whalley, Children's Officer, for consultative conferences
at the Reception Centre. As a result of this, Dr. Graf and Mr. Graham spend one afternoon a month
at the Reception Centre in conference with the staff.
Mr. Graham was asked to be consultant psychologist at the newly formed Kilburn Square Drug Abuse
Centre, and attended some meetings to help on the research design and testing of clients.