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The two special classes at Kingsbury commenced with six children, but can accommodate 18. The
infant class accepted children who would otherwise have had to make the journey to Heston daily or have
continued to await a place as the waiting list there is long. Older children already placed at Heston or Tottenham
were not withdrawn as this would have interrupted their schooling, and the classes at Kingsbury will, within
the next two years, be fully used with young children who will be of school age.
At the end of 1970 there were 36 children ascertained as partially hearing, 16 boys and 20 girls.
Four of these children were of pre-school age and were either receiving auditory training at home or in the
Day Nurseries. Six children were in the partially hearing unit at Kingsbury, six in partially hearing units in
Heston (London Borough of Hounslow), and 12 in partially hearing units in Tottenham (London Borough of
Haringey).
There was one boy in the partially hearing unit at Haverstock Hill Day School in the Inner London
Education Authority, and one child attends a local private school.
Four children are placed at residential school at the Royal School for the Deaf in Margate.
There are children in the ordinary schools in Brent who are partially hearing but not ascertained
as in need of special schooling. These children manage with the help of their hearing aid, and the Peripatetic
Teacher of the Deaf visits these schools regularly to review their progress and give assistance to the staff
when necessary. The children are seen regularly at the Neasden Audiology Unit by the Consultant Otologist
and the audiology team. Where necessary, it will now be possible to give some of these children who are
experiencing difficulty in ordinary schools a period of help in the partially hearing unit to enable them to
catch up with their work and then return to ordinary school.
EDUCATIONALLY SUB-NORMAL CHILDREN
Woodfield Day Special School
At the beginning of 1970 Woodfield School, which had been housing since the previous September
both a primary and secondary section with separate Head Teachers, Mr. Whitehead and Mrs. Molloy, separated,
the primary section moving to Manor School whose previous occupation had been postponed by building
delays.
Woodfield School adjusted to its new status as a Secondary School and Mr. Whitehead commenced
the difficult task of re-organising the school. Staffing problems and the large number of older children in the
school who presented with behaviour problems as well as their learning difficulties made this a very difficult
situation.
It was very disappointing that when considerable improvement in the school became evident that
Mr. Whitehead was appointed to the Headship of his previous school and left at the end of December 1970.
During the Easter and Summer terms, leavers' conferences were held and included the Careers
Officer, Head Teacher, Educational Psychologist, Social Worker and Senior Medical Officer.
At the end of 1970 there were 161 children in the school and during the year there was no delay in
admitting a child. This was of considerable benefit to the children as previously because of the long waiting
list, delays of up to two or three terms sometimes occurred before admission and much valuable time was
lost in commencing special schooling.
Also as a result of available places in the school, several children, who it was thought would benefit
from a further year at school, were allowed to remain after normal school leaving age.
During 1970, 43 new children were admitted to Woodfield and 51 left the school of whom 29 were
of school leaving age.
During the year regular visits were made to the school by the School Medical Officer and special
and routine medical inspections carried out. Children were seen at the request of parents and teachers as
well as at the usual ages for routine examination. For any further treatment or investigation required, referrals
were made to General Practitioners or to Consultants at Hospitals, with the General Practitioner's
permission. Children were referred to the Local Authority Eye, Dental, Orthopaedic, Ear, Nose and Throat
or Audiology Clinic.
The School Nurse visited the school regularly and instituted a programme of health education. Many
of the children at Woodfield School have speech defects and a Speech Therapist attended the school for six
sessions a week.
Manor Day Special School
This school opened in January 1970 with 45 children and the number on role at the end of 1970
was 71 children with 20 children in special infant classes. Forty-four children were admitted during the year
and 13 transferred to other schools, mainly Secondary School, Woodfield, in September 1970.
At the end of 1970 there were 15 children awaiting admission to the main school and five for the
special infant classes.
Many of the children in school require speech therapy and the Speech Therapist attended for four
sessions a week.
Regular discussion about the children's progress and future placement took place between the school
staff, Educational Psychologist and School Medical Officer during the year.
I am indebted to Mrs. Molloy, the Head Teacher for the following report about the school during
its first year.
"Manor Day Special School for E.S.N. primary pupils was opened in January 1970. Incorporated
with the school was a diagnostic unit for ten children. This is composed of a group of children aged between
five and seven years who do not fit in to the Infant School System. In April 1970 a second diagnostic class
was opened and we therefore have 20 children all of whom need very special attention. The teachers observe