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280
1966, particularly in the case of disorders of the ear, nose and
throat and psychological disturbances.
As in previous years, Greenwich has a comparatively high
number of children examined for employment purposes. These
examinations (788) add a considerable burden to the school medical
officers in secondary schools, but they are an essential safeguard
when schoolchildren undertake employment such as the delivery
of newspapers before and after school hours. In both comprehensive
and selective surveys more individuals were found to be
verminous (396) than in 1966 (347). The number of examinations
for this purpose was 54,885. Slightly fewer children (36) were
examined than in 1966 (47) prior to recuperative holidays, whilst
2,633 were examined before joining school journeys to ensure that
they were free from infection and fit to participate in all holiday
activities. Occasionally it was necessary to inform teaching staff
that certain pursuits would be inadvisable, but restrictions are
fortunately rare in ordinary school holiday parties.
During the year arrangements were made for the usual school
medical inspections to be extended to the I.L.E.A.'s school at Goldie
Leigh Hospital. The majority of pupils attending this school are
long stay hospital cases with chronic skin complaints. The full
scheme of medical inspections, including eye testing, audiometry
and immunisation were to be conducted at this school starting in
the new year.
Special Education
Special educational facilities for handicapped pupils were
increased by the provision of two special schools by the Inner
London Education Authority. Charlton Park School for physically
handicapped pupils was started at the end of 1966 but it was
January 1967 that both the day section and the weekly boarding
unit were in operation. The second school was Griffin Manor which
is a special unit for autistic children, brain damaged children and
children with special educational difficulties.
Child Guidance Clinic
It is disturbing to note that the negotiations to engage a psychiatrist
for the proposed Child Guidance Clinic at Chevening Road
Centre were unsuccessful and during the year the Borough had to
rely entirely on the Child Guidance facilities at St. Alfege's Hospital.
Delays in placement at E.S.N. schools, both day and boarding,
continued, but the longest delays were in the placement of children
recommended for admission to schools for maladjusted pupils.