§ 11. Mr. MacCollasked the Minister Education whether he is aware that in London a child ascertained to be maladjusted has to wait about six months for placing in an appropriate school; and whether he will take immediate steps to secure the provision of more places in schools for maladjusted children and the early implementation of the Report of the Committee on Maladjusted Children.
§ Mr. VosperThe average waiting period for London children found to need treatment for maladjustment is four months. Some senior boys may have to wait longer. The L.C.C. is opening another day school in September and will provide further boarding places early next year. As regards the last part of the Question, I cannot add to the reply given on 22nd June to my hon. Friend the Member for Walton (Mr. K. Thompson).
§ Mr. MacCollCan the hon. Gentleman say how long the wait is to be before he is really going to do something about this? Is he aware that in the meantime many of these children are not only making themselves miserable but are making miserable everybody else in the schools in which they are; and will he bear in mind how long the Committee was in making its Report, and that it is absurd for him to continue putting off this question time after time?
§ Mr. VosperI appreciate the importance of this matter, and the London County Council has, I think, three other 673 schools in mind. There has been an improvement compared with 1951, which is always a good year with which to make a comparison. The waiting period was then six to twelve months and it is now only four months.