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Before a pupil leaves school at the age of 16 years, a full medical and psychological assessment
is carried out. A case conference is held during the pupil's last year in the school. The headmaster,
careers mistress, principal medical officer, senior medical officer, educational psychologist, youth
employment officer and social workers attend and a decision is made regarding the type of
employment or training best suited to the pupil. In some cases pupils may not be accepted into
employment immediately on leaving school or may drift from one job to another. In these
circumstances a recommendation is made that pupils should be supervised by the Director of
Social Services, who may arrange for the pupil to have training in a sheltered workshop prior to
taking up open employment in the community.
Many children are ascertained as being educationally sub-normal before they reach 7 years and a
number h»e been placed in E.S.N, schools in neighbouring authorities. There is no doubt that these
children should attend a school as near their homes as possible and it is hoped that additional
accommodation in Carew Manor E.S.N. School will be made available for children aged under
7 years as soon as possible.
Sherwood Park E.S.N. School
This school provides education for 70 mentally handicapped children aged between 3-16 years. The
school transferred to the new purpose-built premises in April 1972 and was officially opened in
October 1972 by Lord Belstead, Under-Secretary at the Department of Education and Science.
The accommodation comprises 7 classrooms including a fully equipped nursery. In addition,
facilities are available for cookery and pottery. One of the greatest assets of the school is the
indoor heated swimming pool, part of the cost of which was contributed by the Sutton and District
Society for Mentally Handicapped children.
The new school provides a stimulating and educational environment with a wide curriculum
which will give every advantage to the mentally handicapped child including the very young, to
progress and function to the maximum of his or her ability. The average number on the school
roll is 59.
Bearing in mind the command paper "Better Services for the Mentally Handicapped" 2 children
attend the school daily who are resident in Queen Mary's Hospital for Children, 10 from a private
community home in the borough and one who is resident in the reception home of this authority.
A speech therapist and physiotherapist each carry out two sessions per week in the school.
A conference is held each term to discuss new entrants to the school and any pupil brought
forward by the school staff and any problem arising of a general nature. Case Conferences for school
leavers are held as reported for Carew Manor fc.S.N. School.
North Dowis Unit
The Unit caters for three groups of maladjusted children. The children remain on the register
of their ordinary school and attend the Unit for varying periods from 1 to 4'A days each week.
The children recommended for admission to the Unit are carefully selected in conjunction with
the child psychiatrist and head teacher of the Unit. Many maladjusted pupils require continued
contact with their homes and parents which can only be achieved by provision of day school
places. The head teacher of the Unit continues to have close contact with the parents of children
attending the Unit. At North Downs Unit the child can continue with his or her normal school
curriculum. The primary purpose of the Unit is therapeutic and an environment is provided in
which the child is helped to come to terms with his disabling emotional difficulties.
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