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21.
I am indebted to the Borough Education Officer for the following
notes of the main developments likely to affect the health of the
children, which have taken place in the educational service during; the
year and for his continued co-operation end that of his staff in the
work of the School Health Services.
"Children under 5 years of are.
During the year continued arrangements have been uade for
the admission of children under five years of age to Infant
Deportments. On 28th September, 1945, there, were 594 such
children attending 26 Departments. These figures represent
an increase of approximately 60% above that prevailing at the
corresponding dote for 1944 owing to the return of evacuees.
The opening of Infant Departments to children under five years
has been found to bo a valuable contribution to the release of
women workers for work of National I .iportancc in the area,
inasmuch as it enabled many mothers to take up such work who
would have otherwise been unable so to do.
Provision of Meals.
The two central kitchens which have been in existence at
Algernon Road ond Bell Lane Schools for the past four years
provide about 3800 meals daily. There are also kitchens at
Orange Hill Secondary School and the R.C. School of the
Annunciation which provide 350 and 200 meals daily respectively.
The latest figures show that 29,060 meals were served during one
week at 34 school canteens for children attending 50 Primary,
Secondary Modern, Secondary C-raomar and Lccondary Technical
School Departments. Owing to the shortage of kitchens there
are still two schools without canteen facilities. Due to the
same cause there are Ion, waiting lists of children requiring
meals in all schools. A central kitchen to provide 1000 meals
daily is being erected by the Ministry of Works on the
Clitterhouse School site and authority has been given for the
erection of another central kitchen to provide 2000 meals daily
at Abbots Road, Burnt Oak. It is also anticipated that Schemes
will shortly be prepared for combined kitchens and dining rooms
for 500 meals daily to be erected at several schools in the
Borough.
On 17th October, 1945, 4215 children received ; rd pint of milk
ond 5546 received 2/3rds. pint of milk (total 9,76l) under the Milk
in Schools Scheme,"
STATISTICAL TABLES.
The Ministry of Education Statistical Tables will be found at the
end of this Report.