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73
The scope of the work has widened. Regular meetings are
held at the Health and Welfare Department concerning the
future of handicapped children who are about to leave school.
Many of these children are well known to the psychologists
who therefore can be of help in the discussions. During the
year a number of residential schools for maladjusted and
E.S.N, children were visited. It is necessary for contacts to
be maintained in the schools where Redbridge children are
placed so that by working in co-operation with the school and
the family the maximum possible benefit can be derived for
the child.
The Woodford Bridge Unit established for E.S.N. children
in September has filled a gap in the special educational provision
in the area. All those children awaiting placement have
been accommodated most successfully and although two
children were expected to be extremely difficult the calm and
happy atmosphere has enabled them to settle down for the
first time in their school careers. The Observation Unit is now
able to show an Increased turnover as those children who
need E.S.N. schooling can now be transferred without much
delay.. This is particularly fortunate as a number of infant age
children have been in urgent need of placement in the Unit.
During the year the Remedial Centre has increased In size
with the addition of an extra class.. Care has been taken to
avoid placing children there who are known to have serious
emotional problems because this has been found in the past to
cause difficulties in the very valuable remedial work that is
being carried on there. There is a temptation to place such
children In the protective, sympathetic environment that the
Centre provides and undoubtedly some of these children have
been very much helped but the disruptive element they present
has slowed down other children and the essential need to provide
a sound, stable learning situation for those who have
fallen behind in school work is the primary purpose for which
the classes were originally formed. The Treeside Unit for
malajusted children was set up to help the emotionally disturbed
children and has done excellent work over the year,
this at present can only cater for the primary school age but It
is hoped to provide for the senior school children when a
building becomes available.
In this connection the possibility was considered during
the year of having a hostel for children of all ages for long or
short-term placement. The value of such an establishment was
seen in terms of the possibility of immediate placement at a
moment of crisis in a family. At present this has been catered