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34
5
SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES
(Annual Report by Dr. D.J. Sheerboom
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,
1963, 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 responsibile 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, 1971. Where relevant, comparable figures relating to the previous
year are shown in brackets.
At September, 1971, there were 9,826 (9,441) pupils attending 31 (30) primary
schools and 6,266 (6,155) pupils attending 8 (8) secondary schools. In addition, 148 (164)
children attended nursery schools. As a result of the Education (Handicapped Pupils) Act,
1970, as from the 1st April, 1971, the Junior Training Centre at Wallingford Avenue became
part of the education system and is known as Dame Evelyn Fox School. The number of
children attending is 72.
ROUTINE MEDICAL INSPECTIONS
Conditions governing the medical examination of all school-children 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 term immediately preceding the end of their school life.
During the year 6,803 (7,046) children were examined in 683 (708) sessions. The
total number of defects found was 2,277, representing an incidence of 33% of the number
of inspections. Of these defects 1,113 (16%) were noted for treatment. Vision defects
comprised 1,141 of the total of which 558 were noted for treatment.
SPECIAL 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 47 (49) statutory examinations were carried
out. Referrals included 32 (40) for the statutory E.S.N, examination which resulted in 19
(14) recommendations for education at schools for the educationally sub-normal. The
remainder included 15 (9) recommendations for open air schools.
Other examinations included 147 (190) secondary school pupils seeking
employment and 795 (1,005) wishing to go on school journeys.
HANDICAPPED PUPILS
Apart from the Dame Evelyn Fox School mentioned above there are no special
schools for the education of handicapped pupils in the area, but a total of 206 (208)