109. Mr. Watkinsasked the Minister of Education what steps are being taken for the provision of nursery schools for blind children in Wales and what authority is responsible for initiating such provisions.
§ Miss HorsbrughI understand that the provision of a nursery school for blind children in Wales is being considered by the Welsh Joint Education Committee, and also by the National Institute for the Blind, which has made all the similar provision in England. It is the responsibility of local education authorities to ensure that suitable educational provision304W is made for handicapped pupils, either by making provision themselves or by using the special schools provided by voluntary bodies. The initiative to provide special schools may come from either local education authorities or from voluntary bodies. In Wales the co-ordination of such provision rests with the Welsh Joint Education Committee.