Slow learners at school.

  • Great Britain. Department of Education and Science.
Date:
1964
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Slow learners at school. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    103/108 (page 85)
    APPENDIX A note on the procedure usually followed when a child is found to be backward at school Many children at one time or another, and for a variety of reasons, fail to make normal progress at school. Some of them turn out to be naturally slow at learning, but can be suitably taught within their normal schools. Others, if promptly given special help by their teachers, are able to make up lost ground. But the moment it becomes apparent that a child’s difficulties are unlikely to be re- solved by such measures within his own school and that further investigation is needed, the head teacher should seek the help of Specialist advisers. Although a severely retarded child usually becomes known to the authorities and appropriate arrangements are made before he reaches school age, many others start school without anyone being aware that they are sufficiently backward to need special education. In many areas there is a well established procedure, familiar to all head teachers, for obtaining specialist advice. This is most import- ant, for there should be no delay in finding the cause of a child’s backwardness if help is to be given promptly. In most cases head teachers are able to call directly upon the authority’s school medical officer or educational psychologist; at the same time they notify the chief education officer that special arrangements may need to be made. By the time he has decided to take this action the head teacher will have talked to the child’s parents to tell them what is being done. Indeed, the closest contact between home and school should be maintained so that a child’s referral for special help is a logical step for which his parents are fully prepared and about which they are fully informed. There is no need for elaboration, for all that is being done at this stage is to investigate their child’s back- wardness so that help may be given. Parents who are not taken into confidence in this way may well feel shock and resentment at a belated revelation of their child’s backwardness, or if the first