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NATIONAL CHILD DEVELOPMENT STUDY
This was a survey which concerned the whole country. By 1966 most of the Parental Questionnaire
and Medical Examination forms for children attending school in Camden had been completed.
However, some forms were still trickling through and Dr. Neville Butler, Co-director of the Survey
expressed thanks to all the staff concerned. The first findings were made available to the Plowden
Committee during 1966.
ENURESIS PROJECT
Social workers from the health department attend the clinics for enuretic school children
held twice a week at University College Hospital. In December 1966, a special project was begun
involving some 90 children, the majority of whom came from Camden schools. Trials in the use of
certain drugs were made and it is expected that findings will be reported in due course in the professional
press.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE OBSERVATION AND HANDICAP REGISTER
In 1966 it was possible to extend principles already well established for handicapped children
under 5, to the school health service. School medical officers and school nurses were asked to survey
their records and to nominate suitable cases for inclusion in the register. A condition warranting
placement on the register was broadly defined as one of either intellect or body which interferes or
is liable to interfere subsequently with the child's ability to develop his full mental or physical
potential. This implies any defect that will require special education or treatment or may later bias
the selection of occupation or affect the individual's capacity to maintain a satisfactory place in
adult society.
Many of the field staff found the sifting of case material a stimulating, if sometimes exacting,
exercise. Often, necessary consultation with head teachers over the needs of specific children brought
a closer awareness of problems. It was decided, with some reluctance, that it would not be possible
to contain records of emotional disturbance on the current register because of the numbers involved.
Such children remain under review through the reinspection system.
MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE HEAD TEACHERS'
CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE
Frank and informal discussion on various aspects of the school health service took place
at a meeting held in October 1966, between senior officers of the health department and head teachers.
Discussion ranged over such subjects as the dental option scheme, case conference procedure, prophylaxis
and the observation and handicap register. The meeting ended on a cordial note and it was
agreed that future meetings would be useful.
SPECIAL SCHOOLS
During the year it was possible to give fuller consideration to the needs of children attending
special schools in the Borough. With the increasing number of children showing signs of emotional
disturbance, the head teachers of John Keats School for delicate pupils and Franklin Delano Roosevelt
School for physically handicapped pupils asked whether a link could be established with the child
guidance training centre which was moving shortly to a site nearby. It was felt that the staff would
benefit from having the help of a psychiatrist in advising them on the management of these children
in school. Although a number of children have been referred to child guidance clinics, attendance
tended to be poor and the children could probably be more easily helped through the school organisation.
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