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53
F. Epileptic Children
Modern anti-convulstant therapy offers a variety of drugs in the treatment of epilepsy and it is seldom
that convulsions cannot be well controlled and the majority of children suffering from this condition are
contained in ordinary schools.
Teaching staff are tolerant of a child with epilepsy when the condition is understood and the appropriate
action to be taken explained. It is the responsibility of the School Doctor to ensure that no anxiety
exists for the Teacher and to give advice on the management of the condition. Other children in the class
usually take the odd fit in a classmate in their stride.
Children whose fits cannot be controlled require special schools. There are two children at Grove
Park School in Brent and one child at Hazelbury School for Delicate Children in the London Borough of
Enfield.
There are two children at Lingfield School for Epileptics and two children at St. Elizabeth's School,
Much Haddam. One child is at a maintained school and one not attending school.
G. Maladjusted Children
The number of children in this group continued to rise as it has done for the last seven years since
the inception of the London Borough of Brent.
At the end of 1972 there were 242 children ascertained as maladjusted as compared with 209 in 1971
and 187 in 1970. As already reported the main problem in placement has been for the junior age day pupils
in Brent and for those children requiring Residential Schools. It is almost impossible to find a Boarding
School for boys and girls over the age of 13.
At the end of 1972 there were 78 boys and girls placed at 50 different Residential Schools and there
are 27 mildly maladjusted boys at Tylney Hall.
Barretts Green Secondary School
The numbers in this school have increased during the year and in December 1972 there were 31
children on roll. The school can accommodate 40 children and with the increase in staffing during the year
the full number of children can be admitted.
Twelve boys and six girls were admitted during the year and 11 children left the school. Of this 11,
seven left at the age of 16, two transferred to Leavesden Hospital Special Unit, one child returned to the
West Indies and one child was sent to an Approved School.
The activities in the curriculum of the school have been extended and a full secondary course of
education is offered.
Regular Case Conferences are held to discuss the progress and management of the children and these
are attended by the school staff, Child Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Psychiatric Social Workers, Social Workers
and the Principal Medical Officer for School Health.
Medical inspections were carried out during each term and referrals for further investigation of defects
found or for treatment were made to General Practitioners or to the Local Authority Health Services.
Vernon House School
Throughout 1973 the school has been full. The place of each child who left has been immediately
filled by another child in urgent need of special schooling taken from the long waiting list. On occasion
children have jumped from their place low on the waiting list because of urgent difficulties arising in their
school and the child has been excluded. This is a difficult situation as children with one particular type of
problem tend to be admitted rather than a mixture which would help to produce a better school environment.
There were 45 children on roll at the end of December 1972. 15 children were admitted during the
year and nine left. Of the nine leaving three transferred to Barretts Green Secondary School, three returned to
ordinary school, one was placed in a Residential School and two moved away from Brent.
H. Physically Handicapped Children
Grove Park School
Grove Park School is a purpose built school for 120 physically handicapped boys and girls from the
age of five until school leaving. The building is a single storey one with wide corridors and graded inclines
which allow wheelchairs and slowly moving children to get about easily and without danger.
Classrooms are light and well equipped.
There is a well designed medical area consisting of a large physiotherapy room, hydrotherapy pool,
medical room, large treatment and rest room with associated shower and washing facilities.
The school was full throughout 1972 with a total roll in December of 122 and of this number 61
were Brent children.
The school accepts children from the adjacent Boroughs of Barnet, Harrow, Ealing and Hillingdon.
During the year 20 children were admitted and 11 left. Of those who left one transferred to an open
air school, two returned to ordinary school, three left at the age of 16 and one transferred to a Training Centre
for Spastic Children. Four children left the district.
The children attending this school vary in the type of severity of their handicap. Spastic children form
the largest single group with children with spinabifida now the second largest group.
Small classes enable the children to receive individual attention and each child progresses at his own
rate.