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Admissions were arranged as soon as ascertainment had been completed and this has been a considerable
advantage to the children as the previously long waiting list before Manor School was established
meant that children waited sometimes two or three terms before admission, during which time their school
performance further deteriorated.
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 examinations. For any further treatment or investigation required, referrals
were made to general practitioners or the 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 had speech defects and the speech therapists attended the school for six
sessions a week.
Manor Day Special School
This school was in the process of being enlarged at the end of 1971 with the building of a new block
so that the total accommodation would provide facilities for 200 children.
At the end of 1971 there were 65 children on the roll. Eighteen children were admitted during the
year and 30 left. Of this latter number 26 transferred to Woodfield Day Special School, one returned to
ordinary school, one transferred to Montford House, one to residential school and one to Kingsbury Day
Special School.
Two diagnostic classes of ten children each are incorporated in the school and provide for children
aged between five and seven who did not fit into the infant school system. These children on admission may
appear to have several different handicaps ranging from emotional, intellectual, mild physical, behavioural and
social difficulties. In this small group, with skilled and loving care, some of these problems can be resolved
and the type of education that is best suited for the child can then be defined. This is only undertaken after a
period ranging from six months to two years in the class and following full investigation by the medical,
psychological and teaching team. At the end of 1971 there were 19 children in these two classes and
during the year nine were admitted and eight left. Five of this number transferred to Kingsbury Day Special
School and four moved into classes in Manor School itself.
Regular medical examinations were carried out at Manor School during each term and a speech
therapist attended two days a week. It is hoped that in future a full time speech therapist will be available
in the school.
Other Day Special and Residential Schools
There were 32 children placed outside Brent at Day Schools, 19 at Montford House and the rest
at other day special schools in London. Thirty-one children were placed at residential schools.
severely sub-normal children
This group of children, previously under the care of the Health Department was transferred to the
Education Department in April and at the end of 1971 there were 224 ascertained as requiring special
schooling.
The majority of these children attend Kingsbury Day Special School and Balnacraig Special School.
Some were placed in residential special schools and others with foster parents and in special nursing homes.
Some 35 children were in Leavesden.
Kingsbury Day Special School
This new purpose-built school which is on the same campus as Grove Park School was opened in
1969. It accommodates 146 children and provides care for both pre-school children and those requiring
largely nursing care in the special care unit, together with the major group of children receiving special education.
The majority of the severely handicapped and the pre-school children require physiotherapy and many
of the children in the school require speech therapy. Unfortunately the school was built without accommodation
for medical examinations, physiotherapy and speech therapy rooms or a sick room. It is expected that
these facilities will be added to the school. The services of a school nurse were also required. Nursing members
of the welfare and teaching staff at present undertake this duty. Regular medical inspections at two-weekly
intervals were performed and the ophthalmologist visited the school each term to see the children and regular
audiometric examinations took place.
Balnacraig Day Special School
The children attending this school are all very seriously handicapped, and require special care. The
unit can accommodate 24 children. However, at the end of 1971 an evacuation of the building was mounted
at very short notice as a result of the Neasden Underpass road works. Excavations came perilously near the
end of the building and the noise level became intolerable. Alternative accommodation was found at Ashley
Gardens in Wembley where the school is temporarily housed until further plans are made.
The children were kept under regular medical supervision and the physiotherapist and speech
therapist visited the school weekly.
Other Day and Residential Schools
Four children were placed in day special units outside Brent and 14 at residential special schools.
Eighteen children were placed in foster homes and special nursing homes outside Brent, some receiving
education at local day special schools and some without this type of day care. It is honed that increasing
provision will be made in their localities by the Local Education Authority and that day placement will be
found at special schools.