[Report 1947] / School Medical Officer of Health, Manchester.
- Manchester (England). Council.
- Date:
- 1947
Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Credit: [Report 1947] / School Medical Officer of Health, Manchester. Source: Wellcome Collection.
48/68 page 48
![general water shortage. During the time the unit operated, an averagel of 450 children attended weekly, and from the middle of June until) the end of the year 7,429 children, 3,756 boys and 3,673 girls passec through the showers. The unit is doing a grand service which is mud enjoyed by the children taking part, even during the periods of cold) weather. AFTER CARE OF HANDICAPPED PUPILS The supervision of children leaving special schools in the past wasj restricted mainly to two categories, the educationally sub-normal anc the physically disabled. In the former, this was undertaken by arrange] ment with a voluntary organisation, namely, the South-East Lancashire Association for Mental Welfare, which employed a social workei specifically for the purpose. The interests of the latter group wer] undertaken by their own joint efforts in an Old Scholars’ Associatioi promoted and assisted by the principal teacher who for many year] was head of the Day Special School for Cripples. Up to the time ol evacuation this school had attached to it the main Orthopaedic SchooJ Clinic. This Association still flourishes and has been mainly respoi sible for the after care of the leavers from the school. The Education Committee’s Administrative Staff concerned witl] handicapped pupils and special schools came to the conclusioi however, that the scope of after care of these special school leaver should be widened to cover the needs of all children for whom nl other arrangements were in operation. Accordingly, an Inter-Deparj mental Staff Committee was set up under the chairmanship of Chief Medical Officer, and including amongst its members such officeij as the Special School Inspector and teachers. Welfare and School Attencj ance Officers and the principal of the Juvenile Employment Bureau. Meetings are held every two or three months when the detaile reports on the leavers are considered. The work of supervising the^ pupils and preparation of the reports is the responsibility of til School Attendance Department and the Senior Officer has written tl| following short statement on the work :— AFTER CARE OF PUPILS FROM SPECIAL SCHOOLS It is pleasing to be able to report that during the year under revie no less than 1,400 visits to homes have been made by the Welfal Officers charged with the supervision and care of special scho| leavers. The Officer’s first visit to the pupil’s home is usually devoted establishing friendly relations with the parents and securing th^l good will and co-operation. On subsequent visits, however, the Offic always endeavours, through personal contact with the leaver, to obt? his or her confidence. They are persuaded, in these informal talks, exert themselves and are made to feel that all the steps taken are their interests and intended to help. In order to discharge their duties effectively and adequately, it I pot [fra Kle: |li$ Eno; ICi aei ttspi so.iy pJive ItlB 2ifoi and 1% ®ed, KTllP I I Was IS Ore Uj](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b29927833_0048.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
