Mentally Subnormal Children (Education) (Hansard, 5 June 1981)

§ Mr. Carter-Jones
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what provision exists for education of children aged 16 to 19 years who remain in long-stay mental subnormality hospitals; and to what extent their education needs are fulfilled.

§ Dr. Boyson
Statistics collected by the Department of Health and Social Security show that in England in November 1979, 1,620 young people aged 16 to 19 who were patients in mental hospitals and units were receiving education of some kind, either in a hospital school or elsewhere. 427 were not; but in only 97 instances was the reason given as lack of facilities. There is a growing awareness of the need to provide for this age group in these circumstances.

§ Mr. Carter-Jones
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children under 16 years living in mental subnormality hospital are receiving full-time education; for how many hours per day; and what is the teacher to pupil ratio in such classes.

§ Dr. Boyson
Local education authorities may provide for such children in special schools serving the community

1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981

School Teachers 9.6 6.6 ¹37.2 22.3 8.3 3.8 9.9 9.3 ²35.0 7.5

Teachers in Colleges of Further Education and Polytechnics 7.7 6.0 ³36.l 19.9 7.3 3.2 9.8 9.3 ⁴35.9 7.5

University Teachers ⁵8.5 ⁶6.0 ⁷8.0 33.0 3.5 9.8 ⁸15.6 ⁹16.3 ¹⁰25.2 ¹¹3.2

¹ 8 per cent. from 1 April 1974 and 27 per cent. on those salaries from 24 May 1974. (Restructuring recommended costing about a further 2 per cent. in the long term.)

² 8.9 per cent. as first stage of "comparability award" from 1 January 1980, 12 per cent. on full "comparability" salaries as first stage of arbitration award from 1 April 1980, and second stage of "comparability award" together with remainder of arbitration award 1 September 1980.

³ 8 per cent. from 1 April 1974 and 26 per cent. on those salaries from 24 May 1974. (Restructuring recommended costing about a further 3 per cent. in the long term).

⁴ 9.1 per cent. as first stage of "comparability award" from 1 January 1980, 12 per cent. on full "comparability" salaries as first stage of arbitration award from 1 April 1980, and second stage of "comparability award" together with remainder of arbitration award from 1 September 1980.

⁵ 7½ per cent. for restructuring agreed in 1971 and a further ½ per cent. for restructuring agreed in 1972.

⁶ 5½ per cent.plus per cent. for restructuring agreed in 1971.

⁷ In addition there were "threshold payments" which were consolidated into scales in 1975.

⁸ 6.1 per cent. first stage of rectification of pay anomaly agreed in 1977 with 9 per cent. on those salaries as 1978 increase.

⁹ 5.7 per cent. second stage of rectification of pay anomaly agreed in 1977 (6 per cent. on 1977 ratio) with 10 per cent. on those salaries as 1979 increase.

¹⁰ 17 per cent. catching-up increase payable in two stages (9 per cent. on 1 April and remainder on 1 October) and a further 7 per cent. 1 October 1980 increase 9 per cent. on 1 April and (the first part of an 18 month increase).

¹¹ Increase payable 1 March 1981 (second part of 18 month increase to 31 March 1982).

426W
at large, in hospital special schools or by arrangements made under section 56 of the Education Act 1944 and information is not available in the form requested.
According to returns made to the Department of Health and Social Security by mental handicap hospitals and units in England, approximately 2,600 patients under 16, out of a total of approximately 2,750, were participating in education on the first full working day in November 1979.
Information about the number of hours per day is not available.
The only information available about teacher-pupil ratiosrelates to special schools and includes pupils over 16. In January 1980, the average teacher-pupil ratio in special schools at mental handicap hospitals was 1: 6.3.

	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981
School Teachers	9.6	6.6	¹37.2	22.3	8.3	3.8	9.9	9.3	²35.0	7.5
Teachers in Colleges of Further Education and Polytechnics	7.7	6.0	³36.l	19.9	7.3	3.2	9.8	9.3	⁴35.9	7.5
University Teachers	⁵8.5	⁶6.0	⁷8.0	33.0	3.5	9.8	⁸15.6	⁹16.3	¹⁰25.2	¹¹3.2
¹ 8 per cent. from 1 April 1974 and 27 per cent. on those salaries from 24 May 1974. (Restructuring recommended costing about a further 2 per cent. in the long term.)
² 8.9 per cent. as first stage of "comparability award" from 1 January 1980, 12 per cent. on full "comparability" salaries as first stage of arbitration award from 1 April 1980, and second stage of "comparability award" together with remainder of arbitration award 1 September 1980.
³ 8 per cent. from 1 April 1974 and 26 per cent. on those salaries from 24 May 1974. (Restructuring recommended costing about a further 3 per cent. in the long term).
⁴ 9.1 per cent. as first stage of "comparability award" from 1 January 1980, 12 per cent. on full "comparability" salaries as first stage of arbitration award from 1 April 1980, and second stage of "comparability award" together with remainder of arbitration award from 1 September 1980.
⁵ 7½ per cent. for restructuring agreed in 1971 and a further ½ per cent. for restructuring agreed in 1972.
⁶ 5½ per cent.plus per cent. for restructuring agreed in 1971.
⁷ In addition there were "threshold payments" which were consolidated into scales in 1975.
⁸ 6.1 per cent. first stage of rectification of pay anomaly agreed in 1977 with 9 per cent. on those salaries as 1978 increase.
⁹ 5.7 per cent. second stage of rectification of pay anomaly agreed in 1977 (6 per cent. on 1977 ratio) with 10 per cent. on those salaries as 1979 increase.
¹⁰ 17 per cent. catching-up increase payable in two stages (9 per cent. on 1 April and remainder on 1 October) and a further 7 per cent. 1 October 1980 increase 9 per cent. on 1 April and (the first part of an 18 month increase).
¹¹ Increase payable 1 March 1981 (second part of 18 month increase to 31 March 1982).