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53
SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE IN KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA
Annual Report by Dr. J.H. Weir,
Borough Medical Officer of Health and
Principal School Medical Officer
The Inner London Education Authority is responsible for the school
health service but by virtue of an agreement required by Section 32 of
the London Government Act, 1936. there is joint use by the Authority and
the Council of professional staff, premises and equipment. The Medical
Officer of Health is the principal school medical officer of the Inner London
Education Authority for the area of the borough and is responsible to
that Authority for the day-to-day running of the service.
The following is a summary of the work of the school health service
during the year ended 31st December, 1969. Where relevant, comparable
figures relating to the previous year are shown in brackets.
At September 1969 there were 9.677 (9.536) pupils attending thirty
primary schools and 7.516 (7.520) pupils attending eleven secondary
schools. In addition, 160 (173) children attended nursery classes and
spastic children of infant age were cared for at Cheyne Hospital School.
ROUTINE MEDICAL INSPECTIONS
Conditions governing the medical examination of all schoolchildren
remain the same as in previous years. Children are examined on entry to
infant school at about five years of age, on entry to primary school at
about eight, on entry to secondary school at eleven-plus, and finally
during the tern immediately preceding the end of their school life.
During the year 7381 (6609) children were examined in 771 (778)
sessions. The total number of defects found was 2,807, representing
an incidence of 38% of the number of inspections. Of these defects
998 (or 13.5% noted for treatment. Vision defects comprised 1219
of the total of which 515 were noted for treatment.
SCHOOL MEDICAL INSPECTIONS
A child exhibiting hitherto unnoticed physical or mental
abnormalities may be specially examined at the request of teachers,
parents or other interested parties at any time during school life.
Defects discovered at routine medical inspection may also result in
special medical examinations.
During the year children thought to be in need of education in
special schools were referred from various sources and a total of 95
(89) statutory examinations were carried out. Referrals included 67
(83) for the statutory E.S.N. examination which resulted in 33 (45)
recommendations for education at schools for the educationally subnormal.
The remainder included 15 (14) recommendations for open air
schools.
Other examinations included 288 (387) secondary school pupils
seeking employment and 876 (444) wishing to go on school journeys.
HANDICAPPED PUPILS
There are no special schools for the education of handicapped
pupils in the area, but a total of 291 (297) children requiring
special educational treatment attended schools in other boroughs and
111 (87) were placed in boarding schools. Included in these numbers were
30 (28) physically handicapped children in attendance at day schools and