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From these figures it is apparent that not more than half the number
of children under five are brought to the clinics. This work everywhere
makes its strongest appeal to women with young babies, and since it was
started the attendance under a year has always greatly exceeded that at
later ages. Of recent years there has been an increase in this number,
as will be seen by the following table:—

The causes of the very small attendance between 3-5 years have been
discussed by many writers. A contributory factor which certainly affects
the work here is the absence of any clear arrangement about the children
who now go to school at or soon after the age of three. This means the
end of any regular attendance at the clinics and they are only brought
again if the parents want advice on some point such as a child's fitness
to attend school after an illness, or when it has toothache, and so on.
The defects found in children at these occasional visits are numerous and
sometimes serious. Parents are often in doubt as to whether having
once discontinued attendance they should return. A real hiatus exists
here which is not by any means fully overcome by the health visitors'
work in the homes, and its existence is not always appreciated by those
who criticise the failure to prevent defects at this age. It would be a
simple step, and one of great value, if children up to 5 years could be
excused school, say, one afternoon every two months, and the parents
asked to take them to the clinic for an assessment of progress.