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Queen Mary's Hospital School
When a child is admitted to hospital it is essential to continue his or her education as soon as he
or she has sufficiently recovered from illness to do so. The school has the responsibility for
teaching all children aged over 2 years who have been admitted to hospital and are in the opinion
of the medical staff fit enough to have schooling.
Teaching takes place in the wards and in some class room set aside for school use. The latter
includes the units for cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, maladjusted, autistic and
non-communicating children aged under 5 years. The school in Queen Mary's Hospital is unique.
It enables all children to follow their education at the same level as prior to admission, and in the
special units the staff form part of a team, reporting on the educational needs of each child and
their opinion as to a child's future school placement when they no longer receive education in the hospital.
The average number on the Roll on 31st December 1972 was 175 (167). Approximately 30 children
come from the London Borough of Sutton and 20 children attended the school on a daily basis,
12 from the London Borough of Sutton and 8 from surrounding boroughs. (Maladjusted Unit 5;
Palsy Unit 3; class for non-communicating children aged under 5 years 7; and Autistic classes 5).
The Chief Education Officer and Principal School Medical Officer with the co-operation and help
of the medical nursing and teaching staff at Queen Mary's Hospital for Children prepared a
detailed report to indicate the educational needs of children who are being taught at Queen Mary's
Hospital School, the teaching and auxiliary staff required and the need for teaching accommodation
and storage facilities. The compiling of this report was commenced during 1972 and it is hoped it
will be submitted to the Education Committee early in 1973.
The Fountain School
Under the Education (Handicapped Children) Act 1970, the Education Corrmittee became
responsible for the education of approximately 340 children aged over 2 years resident in
the subnormality wards of the hospital and who are severely mentally handicapped. The
detailed report to which I referred in my last annual report was subrritted to the Education
Committee and the recommendations have been accepted by the Council. Prior to April
1971, 114 children aged between 4 and 16 years of age received education in a training
centre in the hospital known as the Fountain School. It is generally agreed that it would be
in the child's best educational interest to receive at least part of his education away from the
wards but at present it is not possible to implement this owing to the limited teaching
accommodation.
The educational provision at the Fountain School on 31st December 1972, as listed below,
will give an indication of the expansion of educational services in the Fountain School during
the year.
The Fountain School now provides education for all mentally handicapped children resident
in the hospital either in the Draper Building, 'F' Block and on the wards. Some children attend
the school on a daily basis from the London Borough of Sutton to receive education in one
of the above sections of the school. There are 108 children receiving education in the Draper
Building and 'F' Block and 216 Ward Groups. 28 teachers in addition to the head teacher and
deputy were in post. In addition, 42 classroom assistants have been appointed. In school,
1 teacher and 1 classroom assistant work with a group of 10 children. On the wards, 1 teacher
and 3 classroom assistants work with a group of 20 children giving individual attention.
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