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epileptic children
The majority of epileptic children are well controlled by modern anti-convulsant medication and
provide no problem in ordinary school. From time to time fits may become worse and admission arranged to
Grove Park School until stabilization has occurred. In a minority of children however the fits are difficult to
control and associated behaviour problems may occur in which special schooling is required.
During 1971 two children with fits attended Grove Park School, and one child attended Hazelbury
School for delicate children in Enfield.
Four boys were placed residentially at Lingfield School and one girl attended St. Elizabeth's School,
Much Hadam.
maladjusted children
The number of children ascertained as maladjusted continued to rise, and at the end of 1971 there
were 209 children as compared with 187 the previous year and 70 new cases were ascertained during 1971 as
compared with 60 in 1970. Earlier ascertainment has been the trend during the year and this is excellent from
the point of view of treatment, as the earlier a child is exposed to the special environment of a school for
maladjusted the greater the chance of readjustment and return to ordinary school. However, the 40 places
available for the younger age group has proved inadequate and a waiting list existed throughout 1971 for
places at Vernon House, the primary school for maladjusted children.
Barretts Green Secondary School
This school can accommodate 40 pupils of secondary age and at the end of 1971 there were 24
children on the roll. During the year 13 children were admitted.
During 1971 the school staffing shortage improved and the structure of the school became more
firmly established with a full secondary curriculum.
Regular case conferences were held at the school during term time and these were attended by the
Head Teacher and staff, child psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric social workers and the Principal Medical
Officer for School Health.
Medical examinations were carried out during each term and referrals for further investigations of
defects found or for treatment were made to general practitioners or to Local Authority health services. The
school nurse visited the school and instituted a programme of health education.
Vernon House School
This school provides 40 places for primary age maladjusted children and throughout 1971 the school
was full and the waiting list varying from 10 to 15 children. During 1971, 13 children were admitted and
16 discharged. Of the 16 children discharged, five returned to ordinary school, six transferred to boarding
school, one to a remand home, one to another area and three children to the secondary school for
maladjusted at Barretts Green.
Regular medical inspections were carried out through the year and the school nurse co-operated
closely with the staff of the school. There were five or six case conferences each term with the team from
the Child Guidance Clinic, the Principal Medical Officer for School Health, the School Nurse, Speech Therapist
and all the Vernon House staff, to discuss the progress of pupils and to make plans for their future placement.
Other Day and Residential Schools for Maladjusted Children
Thirteen Brent children attended other day schools for maladjusted children in London. Forty-six
mildly maladjusted boys attended Tylney Hall and 56 children attended 42 different residential, special and
independent schools.
physically handicapped children
Grove Park School
Grove Park School caters for a maximum of 120 physically handicapped children and 12 children
with hearing loss and additional handicaps. The children vary in type and severity of handicap and require
special education and often special teaching methods to enable them to overcome the difficulties resulting
from their handicaps. The aim of the teachers, therapists, nurses and welfare assistants is to develop to the
full the physical and educational potential of each child. Small classes enable the children to receive individual
attention and each child progresses at his own rate. Many of the children require physiotherapy and speech
therapy and this is carried out with as little interruption to their school work as possible.
At the end of 1971 there were 116 children on roll and during the year 22 children were admitted
and 31 discharged. The school accepts children from Ealing, Hillingdon, Harrow and Barnet, 64 of the total
school roll being from Brent. On the children leaving Grove Park, four returned to ordinary school, 13 were
school leavers, and the others variously transferred to schools for E.S.N, pupils, to partially hearing units,
to residential schools, to open air schools or moved to other areas.
Unfortunately except for the small assessment class of partially hearing children the school is unable
to admit children of under five years of age but plans have been approved for the addition of a nursery
class and this we hope will be provided next year. Also planned is an additional classroom which will enable
children to be admitted without having to await a vacancy.
Regular medical examinations were carried out at school during 1971 and the children were periodically
assessed concerning their progress and the need for any further special treatment. Close liaison was
maintained with specialists in charge of the children at various London hospitals.
Vision and hearing are regularly tested and a Consultant Ophthalmologist visits the school twice
a term.
Mr. Sullivan, Orthopaedic Surgeon, attended the school several times a term and any corrective surgery
required was carried out at Stanmore Orthopaedic Hospital.