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Fresh Ascertainments during the year:
Heart cases 5
Cripples 17
Miscellaneous 9
DELICATE CHILDREN. These are children not falling under any other category of the
School Health Service and Handicapped Pupils Regulations, 1953, who by reason of impaired
physical condition, need a change of environment or cannot, without risk to their health or
educational development, be educated under the normal regime of ordinary schools. This is a
kind of residual category covering all handicapped pupils who do not specifically come under
the heading of one of the other handicaps. Diabetic pupils now come under this category.
So far as possible delicate children are sent for treatment to the Pyfield Residential
Open Air School, near Ongar; some are sent to convalescent homes, approved by the Ministry
of Education for long-term cases. Figures relating to the admissions to Fyfield and to
convalescent homes will be found on pages 83, 85 and 90.
The number of children ascertained as delicate during the year was 133, and their
disposal was as follows:-
Admitted to Fyfield 97
Admitted to other Residential Special
Schools 1
Refused to go away 6
On waiting list at end of year 29
MALADJUSTED CHILDREN. These are children who show evidence of emotional instability
or psychological disturbance, and require special educational treatment in order to effect
their personal, social or educational readjustment. Such children are first investigated and
the diagnosis established at the Child Guidance Clinic. The special educational treatment
required is advised by the Clinic and often wholly or partly carried out there. The number
of children ascertained as maladjusted during the year was 3; they were recommended for
admission to a residential school.
PUPILS SUFFERING FROM SPEECH DEFECTS. These are pupils who, on account of defect or
lack of speech not due to deafness require special educational treatment. The number of
new cases found suitable for speech therapy during the year was 91, and 70 were considered
as no longer in need of the treatment. The number on the records at the end of the year
was 97. One child was in a residential special school during the year. An account of the
work of the Speech Clinic appears on pages 72 - 73.
CHILDREN SUFFERING FROM DUAL OR MULTIPLE DEFECTS. Children handicapped by more than
one defect often present a serious problem,in arranging suitable education, as there are so
few schools which specialise in the education of children with dual disabilities. There is
a real need for further provision, which can only be made on a national basis, since no
authority is likely to have more than two or three children with any particular combination
of disabilities. In the year 1953, three cases were known to the Authority, The particulars
are as follows:-
Elizabeth Fry Special School
1 boy, aged 16 years, Physically Handicapped (Hemiplegia) Epileptic and
Educationally Sub-normal. (Left school 27.3.53).
1 girl, aged 12 years, Physically Handicapped (Alopecia) and Educationally
Sub-normal.
80