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The teacher for the deaf visits each school which a child attends who has a hearing
loss to discuss the treatment and progress of each child with the head teacher. The co-operation
of teachers in this respect is much appreciated.
New cases supplied with hearing aids in 1970 11 (9)
Pupils registered as having been fitted with hearing aids 51 (41)
Total number of children seen by Audiometrician 2477 (2191)
Number referred for further investigation 136 (116)
(b) Speech Therapy
Speech therapy sessions are held at clinics and also at Carew Manor Special School,
the Junior Training Centre, Observation and Diagnostic Classes and at a private Special School
in the borough.
The total number of children attending for speech therapy in 1970 was 287 (262).
(c) Child Guidance Service
The staff of the Child Guidance Clinic work closely with their colleagues in other
sections of the Health and Family Services and Education Departments and with Probation
Officers, psychiatric colleagues in hospitals and particularly closely with general medical
practitioners. Educational Psychologists working with School Psychological Service are based
at the Child Guidance Clinic thus creating a closely integrated service.
Following diagnostic interview treatment may be carried out at the clinic or
occasionally referred for follow-up by the most appropriate agency, e.g. the Child Care Officers,
progress being followed up by the Child Psychiatrist.
There has been an increasing number of cases requiring treatment at the Child
Guidance Clinic as a result of which it was necessary to request the appointment of an additional
psycho-therapist.
Maladjusted children in need of special schooling are placed either in North Downs
Day Special School or in residential schools for maladjusted children.
The number of children referred to the Child Guidance Clinic during 1970 was
130 (129).
Full details of the work of the Child Guidance Clinic are given in the Appendix to
this report.
(d) School Psychological Service
The London Borough of Sutton differs from the majority of local authorities in
that the School Psychological Service was administered by the Department of Health and Family
Services and not by the Education Department. This afforded greater opportunity for
co-operation with the Health Authority and as a result of this the educational psychologists
are already much concerned with the assessment of severely subnormal and pre-school children.
Nevertheless by the nature of its work the School Psychological Service is particularly concerned
with building a close working relationship with schools and with the Education Department.
Close liaison is maintained with the Child Guidance Clinic and psychological
reports were submitted to the child psychiatrist in respect of 56 children.
At the request of the Chief Education Officer the School Psychological Service
devised a questionnaire on remedial teaching facilities which was sent to all primary schools
and the results were subsequently analysed and a report submitted to the Chief Education
Officer. The psychologists have also assisted in the allocation to high schools procedure by
assessing all under-age candidates and have participated in some of the in-service training
organised by the Education Department.
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