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Day Care, To the mother of several young children, the full time care of a difficult
handicapped child may well be the last straw- though not all handicapped children are difficult
in the early years. Though the child himself needs his mother and his family, he may not
always find in his home the stimulation and safety provided by a suitable environment and play
material, the companionship of other children of his own level or the patient understanding of
his learning difficulties so essential to his slow yet progressive development. A few children
are suitable for the spastic unit and a small number of carefully selected backward children
have been admitted to vacant places in a day nursery, with great benefit to themselves and
their families, and without detriment to other children. Some more regular, though flexible
arrangements are likely to be required if the need is to be fully met - particularly for the
day care (perhaps part-time) for children who are "border line", or present unusual features
in their development. In addition to helping the child and his family, a small day centre
would permit more concentrated observation and assessment of the child. This would be of
value in planning his future care and management. Experience of the children seen at the
Development Clinic should, in course of time, lead to a more precise formulation of this need
and of the ways in which it may be met.

Of the 4 ascertained children 3 were deaf; one was physically handicapped on account
of cerebral palsy.
The 73 children not yet ascertained were under observation for the following reasons
(but it does not follow that they will all be ascertained as handicapped pupils).
Mentally retarded 26
Epileptic 7
Defective speech 1
Partially deaf 3
Impaired vision 7
Physically handicapped 29-3 Congenital heart disease
3 Cooley's anaemia (all from one family)
10 Hydrocephalus, spina bifida or meningocele
2 Cerebral palsy
1 Hemiplegia
2 Post-polio paralysis
1 Nephrectomy
7 Other congenital defects
Total: 73
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