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51
SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE IN KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA
Annual Report by Dr. J.H. Weir,
Borough Medical Officer of Health and
Principal School Medical Officer
I have pleasure in submitted the following summary of the work of
the School Health Services undertaken in the Royal Borough of Kensington
and Chelsea during the year ended 31st December, 1966. Throughout the
summary, the comparable figures relating to the previous year are shown
in brackets.
Excluding children attending schools outside the ordinary
jurisdiction of the authority, 10,134 (9.769) children were contained
in thirty primary schools, and 7,239 (7,231) of senior school age
attended eleven secondary schools. In addition, 172 (171) children of
nursery school age attended appropriate schools, and spastics of
infant age were cared for by the Cheyne Hospital School.
Routine Medical Inspections.
Under normal conditions, all children are medically examined
four times during their school life - on entry to the infants' school
at about five years of age; on entry to the junior school at about
eight years of age; on entry to the secondary school at eleven-plus;
and during the term immediately before leaving the secondary school.
During the period under review, 751 (783) sessions were held,
and 6,830 (7,014) children examined. Of this number, 42.6% (45.5%)
were referred for treatment and 14.3% (16.3%) had defects which were
reported.
The parents of 52.3% (48.6%) of the children exercised their
right to be present at the examination of their children. While this
percentage is still relatively low, there appears to be a growth in
the number of parents who seriously consider the welfare of their
children.
Care Committee representatives were present at 81.7% (84.5%)
of the sessions held.
Special Medical Inspections.
A child may be specially examined at the request of teachers,
parents, or other interested parties, or as the result of defects
discovered at routine medical inspections.
Of the 77 (132) children who were referred during the year for
the statutory E.S.N. examination, 34 (59) were recommended for
education at an E.S.N, school. The number of children referred for
education at open-air schools was 18 (34), while 67 (133) were seen
for miscellaneous reasons.
314 (284) secondary school pupils seeking employment were
examined, as were 1,026 (678) who wished to go on school journeys.