The Elwyn Morey Child Study Centre was set up to reflect the interests of the late Associate Professor Elwyn Morey in early childhood education and in special education. The centre is situated within the faculty and includes facilities for research, observation and assessment as well as a fully equipped kindergarten which serves the needs of the surrounding locality and is open to anybody.
The kindergarten provides programs for both normal children and those with specific developmental disorders of speech and language. Assistance with children with special needs is provided by faculty staff and students and where necessary funds are sought for additional specialist staff such as a physiotherapist or speech pathologist.
In addition, the centre carries out diagnostic assessments of preschool children who are referred to it and sets up individual programs for them in collaboration with other agencies, government departments and the centres which they attend. Clinical educational consulting services to schools, clinics and the nearby community generally are also provided. The centre is particularly well equipped for audiometric and visual assessments and these can normally be arranged for students involved in clinic practica. Research facilities are available for students wishing to pursue postgraduate studies of the characteristics and education of preschool children. Facilities are also available for supervised clinical training of psychologists wishing to gain experience with young children.
The centre is staffed by two teachers with two assistants together with consultant support from faculty staff.
The facilities for systematic direct observation of children in the kindergarten, as well as of school-aged children, in one-to-one teaching situations, are readily available and provide ample opportunity for students wishing to carry out practical projects within the faculty. Students who would like to work with kindergarten-aged children are encouraged to discuss their ideas with the members of staff with special interests in the pre-school area (Dr L Bartak and Dr G Best). A number of members of faculty staff are available and happy to provide academic and professional supervision in this field.