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63
SPEECH THERAPY
Due to a number of resignations of therapists for various reasons, a serious staff shortage has been
experienced this year and the treatment of many children has been interrupted. Waiting lists have lengthened
for the same reason and at some clinics it has been impossible to arrange sessions at all.
The Special Schools too have been affected although the one exception was the Grove Park Special
School where perhaps the need is greatest.
It is to be hoped that the situation will improve in the coming year.
HANDICAPPED CHILDREN AND SPECIAL SCHOOLS
blind children
At the end of 1969 there were six children, all of them boys, placed in residential schools for the
blind. There were three children at Dorton House, Sevenoaks, one at Condover Hall, Shropshire, one at
Sunshine House, Sussex and one at Worcester College, Worcester.
partially sighted children
Unlike the previous group of children who are all boys the partially sighted children consisted of
eleven boys and seven girls. At the end of 1969 they were all placed at day schools in the Inner London Education
Authority. There were 17 children at John Aird School and one girl at New River School.
deaf children
At the end of 1969 there were 13 boys and seven girls ascertained as deaf. Four of these boys were
of pre-school age and placed in Brent Day Nurseries. These children were seen regularly at the Day Nursery
by the peripatetic teacher of the deaf. Ten of the school children were placed at Heston Day School for the
Deaf in Hounslow and Blanche Nevile Day School at Tottenham and one girl was at Ackmar Day School
in the Inner London Education Authority.
The remaining five children are at residential schools, one each at Nuffield Priory School, St.
Thomas' School, Basingstoke and Tewin Water School and two children at the Royal School for the Deaf in
Margate.
partially hearing children
Children in Brent who are ascertained as partially hearing are placed in partially hearing classes
attached to ordinary schools in the Heston and Tottenham areas where these classes are supervised from
the schools for the deaf in these areas. It has always been felt that the journey for Brent children and particularly
for the very young was long and tiring and a decision of the Education Committee this year to establish
two partially hearing classes attached to Kingsbury Green School has been most welcome and timely.
An increasing number of children requiring special education as partially hearing either on a long term basis
or for shorter periods has occurred during the last few years and consequendy children have had to wait for
places at Tottenham and Heston. It is hoped that these two classes in Brent will be equipped and staffed and
ready to admit pupils in 1970.
At the end of 1969 there were 35 children, 15 boys and 20 girls, ascertained as partially hearing,
six of these were of pre-school age and attended Brent Day Nurseries. Eleven of the children attended partially
hearing classes in the Heston area (London Borough of Hounslow) and eight children in the Tottenham
area (London Borough of Haringey). There were two children in the partially hearing unit of Haverstock Hill
Day School in the Inner London Education Office area.
There were four children placed at residential school, at the Royal School for the Deaf, Margate.
There were a number of partially hearing children who managed in ordinary classes in Brent schools.
These children have hearing aids and their progress was supervised by the peripatetic teachers of the deaf who
visit them at school. These children were seen regularly by the consultant otologist at Neasden Audiology
Unit in consultation with the peripatetic teacher of the deaf and if these children were found to be experiencing
difficulties in class, transfer to partially hearing units was arranged. It will be very satisfactory to have
our own partially hearing classes so that these transfers can be arranged within the Borough.
educationally sub-normal children
Woodfield Day Special School
It was planned in 1968 to increase the provision in 1969 for children requiring special education
because of learning difficulties as the numbers of these children in the Borough had increased very consider
ably, particularly in the senior age groups. This increase was partly due to the actual increase in the number
of school children in Brent and it is estimated that about L% of children havs learning difficulties and may
require special education. Also there was an increase ii the number of older immigrant children in Brent,
many of whom for various reasons presented learning difficulties.
The Junior and Senior Sections of the school at Woodfield were to be separated, the former being
transferred to the Manor School in The Avenue, Broidesbury, the seniors remaining at Woodfield. Due to
the delays in the building alterations at the Manor School the opening in September 1969 was postponed and
both the Head Teachers of the Junior and Senior Sections of the school had to manage their separate schools
in Woodfield until the end of 1969.