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increase in handicapped pupils of this nature, often unfortunately with
multiple defects.
In particular this year saw a rise in the admissions of children
suffering from Spina Bifida. Modern surgery has been saving over a
thousand such children yearly for the past five or six years and these
are now reaching school age. Many, though in the hands of neurologist,
urologist and orthopaedic surgeons, have unlike the cerebral palsy child
quite normal patterns of intelligence. As they will have to rely entirely
on their intellectual abilities in adult life, education is even more important
to them than to the ordinary child and much thought should be
given to their best placement.
As a result of the above factors there are now vacancies in the
larger P.H. classes while there is a growing waiting list for admission
to the smaller classes of the Nursery and Cerebral Palsy Units. The
overall 10% reduction in the scholars attending is due to this pattern of
ever increasing preponderance of congenital defects, a pattern likely to
continue and give increasing need for small classes.
Staff
We regret the resignations of Mrs. Craig, physiotherapist and Mrs.
Hallows, nursing auxiliary but welcome Miss Barton, physiotherapist,
who is already proving a valuable member of the staff.
Mr. Lee our visiting orthopaedic consultant continued to supervise
the pupils' therapies and advise in many other ways. School medical
examinations followed previous lines, case conferences were held where
necessary and there were useful meetings with Mr. Causton the Headmaster
and Mr. Farrell the Youth Employment Officer who has again been
of great help in the difficult problem of placing school leavers in suitable
work.
During holidays therapy for Redbridge pupils continued at the
school as before, coupled with any essential visits by therapists to
advise parents on problems in the home. One spastic pupil benefitted
from an enjoyable 2 weeks I.C.A.A. holiday at Cambridge.
In June the medical and therapist staff visited for the day the Lady
Zia Wehner Centre at Luton where Mrs. Esther Cotton's athetoid unit
use the approach advocated by Dr. Peto of Budapest, intensive therapy
combined with education being given by the same person. The visit both
stimulated and gave fresh ideas for adaptation. In September we wel-