View report page

76
*There has been further development and expansion in the
special educational units within the Borough during the year
and we have been closely concerned in these projects
The plans outlined in last year's report for the expansion
of the Observation Croup into two classes and the opening of a
new unit for autistic children have come into effect. These now
comprise the Woodman Path Unit with Mrs. Shipp in charge of
the Observation Unit and Miss Chase in charge of the Unit for
Autistic Children.
There are one or two children at present in the Observation
Unit whose educational problems have been assessed suffi*
ciently to make it clear that they need placement in a school
for Educationally Sub-Normal children and their social adjustment
suggests that they would soon be ready for a move to a
larger group. At the moment it is not possible to work out a
move for them in advance but as there are plans in hand for
day E.S.N, provision to be made within the Borough as soon as
premises are available and suitably adapted for the purpose the
placement of these children should, we hope, be possible
within the next year.
The other aspect of the work at the Woodman Path Unit is
an entirely new venture; three children have been admitted to
the Autistic Unit during this term. The previous experience
which Miss Chase had as a teacher of non-communicating
children in a hospital setting is very relevant to the work with
children in our Autistic Unit. The problems of these children
are extremely severe so their behaviour is often unpredictable.
They are also difficult to manage as it is not easy and sometimes
impossible to gel through to them, they are so
unresponsive to people. This demands great persistence and
endless patience before any results can be seen but the two
children who have been in the Unit throughout the term have
shown a definite improvement.
The day class for Maladjusted Children is now known as
the Treeside Unit to distinguish it from the other special
classes in the Borough as there has been some confusion in
the past. At present there is one class at Treeside Unit which
has built up in numbers over the year. All the children admitted
are within the normal range of intelligence but have emotional
problems of various kinds. In this Unit the aim is to help the
children to function as a group. The selection has to be made
carefully to enable the teacher to use the group interaction to
help children work out their problems in relation to the group,
the adults and the teaching situation. A most valuable year's