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66
SPEECH THERAPY
During the past twelve months the number of speech therapists has increased to three full-time and
four part-time therapists. This covers four sessions provided at the Junior Training School. The establishment
has recently been altered to include a Senior Speech Therapist which will considerably improve the overall
service provided.
Working Clinics
Speech therapy is currently provided at eight clinics and approximately 120 children are treated
weekly. In the same clinics there is a total waiting list of approximately 70 children and it is extremely
unlikely that with the present staffing this situation can be greatly improved.
In all the clinics served by speech therapists a room is specifically set aside and this greatly assists
with treatment.
Work in Special Schools
At Grove Park Day Special School for physically handicapped pupils excellent provision is made
for speech therapy. However, at Woodfield and Manor (educationally subnormal) and Vernon House (maladjusted)
Schools inadequate provision is made; this is reflected in two main areas:
1. As there are insufficient sessions at these schools, some children requiring speech therapy are unable
to be seen weekly. However, many need to be seen intensively two or three times weekly for their treatment
to be successful.
2. Adequate accommodation is not provided and therapists are constantly being moved from room to room
several times a day. Mentally handicapped children frequently suffer from poor concentration and these disturbances
severely hinder their treatment.
An extension to the Manor Junior E.S.N. School is planned for January 1972 accommodating 108
children. Judging by present proportions approximately 20 of these children will probably need treatment,
but it is understood that no room has been set aside for speech therapy in the new plans. At this stage it is
envisaged that approximately 50 children within the whole school will need therapy.
Conclusion
The speech therapy service has improved considerably over the past twelve months as two new fulltime
therapists have been appointed. In addition the future appointment of a Senior Speech Therapist will
assist with co-ordination to improve the service.
HANDICAPPED PUPILS AND SPECIAL SCHOOLS
It is interesting and instructive to review the increased provision made for day special education for
handicapped children in Brent over the last five years and from present trends to give some indication of our
needs in the future.
The School population has risen from 35,669 in 1965 to 42,622 children in 1970 representing a 20%
increase. As might be expected with this substantial rise there has been an associated increase in the number of
children ascertained as handicapped but as will be seen from the Table at the end of this section this increase
has not been 20% but twice this at 40%. This has placed a considerable strain on facilities available for
special education and made necessary an increase in provision. I would point out however that the majority
of children with speech defects attend ordinary schools and their increase in number does not require special
education but does involve an increase in the establishment of Speech Therapists to enable those children to
be treated.
In 1965 there were two special schools, one Woodfield for children with learning difficulties (E.S.N.)
and accommodating 200 pupils, and Lower Place School for physically handicapped children with 90 places
filled, providing 290 places in all. During the last five years Woodfield School has been changed to a secondary
age school for 200 pupils (E.S.N.) and the Manor School has been established for the primary aged
E.S.N, pupils and will when completed be able to take 200 children. These schools are meeting the heavy
demands made for places required for children with learning problems.
Lower Place School for physically handicapped children moved to Grove Park, a new purpose built
school, and in 1970 has been full with 124 children. A Nursery Unit and extra classroom are awaited and
scheduled for future addition.
Two schools for maladjusted pupils, one for primary aged children at Vernon House and one
secondary aged at Barrett's Green have been established and together accommodate 80 pupils.
Two classes for the partially hearing primary aged children opened in 1970 at Kingsbury Green
School and will provide 18 places.
The total number of children in 1965 placed at Day Special Schools in Brent was 290 and at the end
of 1970 the number had risen to 682.
In association of course with the increased need and provision made for Day Special Schools in the
Borough for particular handicaps there has been an increase of children with other handicaps such as the
delicate child and the deaf child who attend Day Special Schools outside Brent.
The number of delicate children requiring Special Education has doubled since 1965 and 17 are
placed at Day School outside Brent involving a considerable journey.
The deaf children, particularly the young ones, require day placement in the Borough as at the
moment these children travel to Heston (as did previously our partially hearing children now in the Special
Unit at Kingsbury Green School).