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71
and staff because the children have to be under supervision
when they clean their teeth after the meal. However, I am convinced
this is a worthwhile task because it seems wrong to
tell children to clean their teeth after meals and then deny
them the facility at school.
Fluoridation of water supplies should be the next major step
to be taken in the field of preventive dentistry. However, it
appears it will be many years before this is possible.
The Ethel
Davis School
Staffing Changes
Miss Moorhouse, Occupational Therapist, left in April to
work with another Authority and was replaced in July by Miss
Moorcroft who came to us from a course in cerebral palsy at the
Cheyne Walk Centre.
Miss Dotzler, physiotherapist, left us in June and unfortunately
her place has not yet been filled.
With only one physiotherapist it is impossible to give the
children all the treatment they require, though Mr. Brand, our
Superintendent Physiotherapist, has worked hard to bridge the
gap-
New Equipment
New equipment includes an extra hoist, an oxygen
resuscitator and an Amplivox speech training aid for use
with an induction loop system. This last piece of equipment is
for the use of a partially hearing spastic boy whose speech
development has been retarded because of his hearing defect.
It should enable him to hear well anywhere in the classroom.
Therapy
As reported above 1966 was a disappointing year for
physiotherapy. Occupational therapy was carried out by our full
time therapist and 1 consider this to be one of the most valuable
treatments we give, particularly where hand control and use are
involved. Two Speech Therapists visit the school for a total of
nine sessions a week. Most of their time is occupied with the
cerebral palsied children, many of whom have speech defects,
though their skills extend to advising on techniques of feeding
children who have difficulty in swallowing.
The children are under continuous medical supervision and
Mr. Lee, our Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, reports elsewhere
on his weekly visits.
Our ophthalmic and dental services are used by many of the
children and the school nurse accompanies them to these
clinics.