View report page

292
and throat and orthopaedic disabilities. Names of children are
recorded in the Borough's Observation/Handicapped Register
where the disability noted is such that there is necessity for special
education. These pupils are reviewed at the discretion of the Principal
School Medical Officer annually. However, certain cases may
be reviewed more frequently where the handicap is severe.
Non-Routine Medical Examinations
Following 24,139 comprehensive and 23,003 selective surveys,
551 children, equivalent to 1.36% of the school roll, were found
to be verminous. This was an increase of 84 (0.19%) over the previous
year. Despite this regrettable deterioration in the Greenwich
rate, it was still less than that recorded for the Inner London
Education Authority as a whole. The latter increased more unsatisfactorily
from 1.30% in 1970 to 1.66% in 1971.
To assess or re-assess educational needs of handicapped pupils,
524 medical examinations were effected, showing a decline of 440/°
from the 1970 figures. A further 3,460 non-routine examinations
were carried out to determine the fitness of children to undertake
school journeys. This was a total some 12% higher than that
returned for the previous year.
Recuperative holiday examinations were 39, three more than in
the previous year. The children were inspected mainly to confirm
that they were free from infection and to ensure that they were
fit to take part in various holiday pursuits. Examining School
Medical Officers are also required to advise teaching staff when
pupils are to be excused certain types of activity on medical
grounds, for example, children who suffer from bronchial asthma,
cardiac disabilities or limb weakness, etc. Restrictions on physical
activities are rare in children enjoying ordinary school holiday
parties.
Children examined for employment purposes totalled 431.
Although these examinations increase the work-load of School
Medical Officers in Secondary Schools there is no doubt that they
are an essential prerequisite in ensuring that schoolchildren undertake
employment which is within their physical and emotional
ability. In particular, a thorough medical examination of schoolchildren
engaged in the delivery of newspapers, etc. before and
after school hours is necessary to ensure that a child's health is
not adversely affected by undertaking such part-time work.
Special Education
During the year, tentative arrangements were made for the
normal range of school medical and dental facilities to be extended
to the Inner London Education Authority's newly acquired Heathview
Residential School which is situated within the Borough. This