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Unfortunately the percentage of children adequately immunised against
diphtheria and poliomyelitis is gradually decreasing. It is hoped that all
teachers will help to improve this position by emphasing the necessity for
adequate protection whenever they are in contact with parents.
HANDICAPP3D PUPILS
It is the duty of the Council to make suitable provision for handicapped
pupils in the Borough. The Handicapped Pupils and Special Schools Regulations,
1959, specify ten categories of handicapped pupils, namely:-
Blind, Partially sighted, deaf, partially hearing, educationally sub-normal,
epileptic, maladjusted, physically handicapped, delicate and speech defect.
Children who are handicapped in one or more of these ways require special
educational treatment since they cannot be educated satisfactorily under the
normal conditions of an ordinary school. The majority, however, do not require
to attend a special school since suitable arrangements can be made for them
to receive appropriate education in ordinary schools.
The Table on page 92 gives full information regarding the number of handicapped
children newly assessed in 1965 and the total number as at 31st December, 1965.
attending special schools.
There are two special schools in the Boroughs Carew Manor, Wallington,
for educationally sub-normal children and North Downs, Belmont, a small unit
for maladjusted children.
(a) Carew Manor School
This special school is a day school for 140 educationally sub-normal
boys and girls aged from 7-16 years. The average number of pupils
attending during 1965 was 130. The headmaster of the school has reported
that it was not possible for the numbers to be increased to the maximum of
140 since there was a shortage of staff.
Before a child is admitted to this or any other special school
for educationally sub-normal children a full medical examination is
carried out and reports are obtained from an educational psychologist
and if necessary from a psychiatrist.
Every child attending the school has a physical examination annually
and is psychologically assessed every 2 years. At the request of the
headmaster or the parents these examinations can be arranged at short notice
at any time.
In addition to a regular weekly session at the school by a school
medical officer and educational psychologist two physiotherapy sessions are
held each week and 4 sessions are devoted to speech therapy.
Before any pupil leaves the school at the age of 16 a full
medical and psychological investigation is carried out and, in conjunction
with the headmaster, a decision is made regarding the type of employment
that might be suitable for the pupil. In some cases because the pupil
might not be accepted into employment or may drift from one job to
another, supervision and community care by mental health social workers
is recommended. To assist in finding suitable employment the Principal
Youth Employment Officer devotes several sessions at the school to
interviewing school leavers and their parents.
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