View report page

(d) School Psychological Service
This service is administered independently from the Child Guidance Clinic
but works in parallel with it. It is staffed basically by one full-time
and one half-time Educational Psychologist and in March 1968 a further
Psychologist joined the service on a sessional basis. The service was
also involved in the supervision of Educational Psychology Diploma
students in the academic years 1967/68 and 1968/69.
The service attempts to assess the potential and difficulties for any
pre-school or school child referred for advice and a total of 345 (1968)
and 730 (1969) children were seen. The following table summarises the
source of referral and the main recommendations made.
It will be seen that a comparatively small number of children were
referred to the Remedial Units in the Borough. This is because of the
limited number of places available at remedial units at the moment.
However, there are plans in co-operation with the Education Officers for
improving remedial provision in the junior and secondary schools.
The two Infant Observation and Diagnostic Classes were set up in
September 1968, fulfilling a most important need and the service is happy
to co-operate with the Medical Officers in the selection of children for
these classes as we do in many other spheres.
Besides these vital links with the Administrative Services for Health and
Education it is important to note that the majority of our referrals come
directly from the Head Teachers themselves and the service values the
close contact with the schools.
Two sessions a week in term are devoted to visits to Carew Manor School
where the review scheme inaugurated by the Head Master continues successfully.

- 83 -