School report for a Blind Child, 1901
In England, the education of deaf and blind children was not
specifically addressed until 1893. Although the Forster Education
Act (1870) had made elementary education compulsory, it made no
reference to children with special needs, and consequently national
provision of education was patchy. There were no dedicated schools
for educating special needs pupils (Worcester College for the Blind
Sons of Gentlemen was established in 1866, but as its name suggests
was a fee-paying boys’ school).
They were sent out of the city to be educated, at the Worcester
Corporation’s expense, in this case, to a boarding school for blind
and deaf children at The Mount in Stoke-on-Trent. It had opened in
1897 and its catchment area extended as far as Manchester. The
report shows a surprising range of subjects, not only of the 3Rs
but also physical education, singing, geography and practical
skills such as cookery.