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EPILEPTIC CHILDREN. The definition of an epileptic child for our purpose is one
who, by reason of epilepsy, cannot be educated in an ordinary school without detriment to
the interests of himself or other pupils and requires education in a special school. It
is not every child with epilepsy who can be technically "ascertained" as an epileptic.
The definition Is a functional one, relating not to the medical classification of the
disease but to the child's educational needs or to his influence on others, and these
factors are the sole criteria which determine whether a child shall be ascertained.
The majority of epileptic children cause little disturbance to the educational
routine or injury to themselves and can consequently continue in an ordinary school.
Where the degree of disability is so great that formal ascertainment is necessary, the
child can only properly be educated in a boarding school. It is always more desirable
in the child's own interests that he should remain in the general community leading as
normal a life as possible, and consequently a rather cautious attitude is taken towards
the ascertainment of these children. It is only when they are clearly unable to fit
into the ordinary school and home life that the rather drastic step is taken of arranging
this particular form of special education. The number of non-ascertained cases of epilepsy
known to the Authority is 46. The work relating to ascertained cases of epilepsy during
the year may be summarised as follows
Number of ascertained cases known to the Authority 11
Number of cases in residential special schools 9
Number out of school Nil
Number of fresh ascertainments during the year 2
Disposal of these oases:
In Day Special School 2
PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN. The general definition of such a child is one who,
by reason of disease or crippling defect, cannot be satisfactorily educated in an ordinary
school or cannot be educated in such a school without detriment to his health or educational
development. The treatment of tuberculosis in hospital schools is now the responsibility of
the Hospital Boards and complete information relating to West Ham children could not be
obtained. The following figures set out the position regarding physically handicapped
children in the Borough in the year 1951:-
Total number known to the Authority: (Includes all
children on register at any time during the year)
Heart cases 19
Cripples 78
Miscellaneous 21
Physically Handicapped Children in Residential Special
Schools and Hospital Schools:
Heart cases 3
Cripples 15
Miscellaneous 10
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