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SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE
In submitting this annual report on the school health service, the second since
the reorganisation of local government in London, it is with pleasure that I record a
continuing development of co-operation between teaching and health staff, and close
liaison with the Medical Adviser's Department of the Inner London Education Authority,
and the local Divisional Education Officer.
During the year, two School Nursing Sisters retired after over 30 years each in
the school health service in this locality.
The health of the schoolchildren remained good and only a few minor outbreaks of
dysentery occurred, affecting four schools. A small outbreak of vomiting occurred at
another school affecting eleven of the staff and twelve children. The features of this
were similar to epidemic vomiting, and it was considered probable that it was carried
by a virus.
Medical examinations
All children are medically examined on entry to primary school, and again at the
age of seven years (unless they attend a school where selective medical examinations
are in force). They are also examined on transfer to secondary school, and again at
school leaving age. Pupils at special schools, of which there are seven in the Borough,
are examined more frequently as well as any children brought forward in ordinary
schools by the Education Officer, Head Teacher, Care Committee worker etc. During 1966
routine, special and re-inspections all increased as compared with 1965. Details are
shown in the statistical tables at the end of this report.
At the request of the Head Teacher and the Medical Officer of one school, the
first medical examination of new school entrants was arranged on an experimental basis
before admission. It was reported that a higher than average percentage of mothers
attended and as a result information was obtained regarding the children's past
medical history and details of vaccination and immunisation. It was also possible to
obtain consent for any treatment required, which is sometimes difficult to obtain in
writing once a child has started school. Following consultation with one of the local
head teachers' consultative committees, details of the scheme were circularised to
all other schools with Infants' departments and one school adopted the arrangements.
Selective Medical examinations
At a number of schools in the Borough, the routine medical inspection which takes
place at age 7+ had been discontinued and a scheme of selective medical examinations
substituted. Under this scheme, parents are asked to complete a form giving details of
their child's behaviour, illnesses, etc. These forms are then considered by the school
doctor, head-teacher school nurse and care committee worker, and it is decided which
children to call up for examination. If the parents do not return the forms, teachers,
school doctors or care committee workers can request a medical examination for
children about whom they are particularly worried. During the past year six schools
had asked to return to the normal routine medical examinations; this resulted in the
number of routine school medical inspections increasing from 13,877 in 1965 to 14,235
in 1966 and the percentage of such inspections as percentage of school roll from 38.3
to 39.4. The number of children found not to warrant examination under the selective
scheme decreased.
Statutory examinations
Children may be examined under Section 34 of the Education Act, 1944, to ascertain
whether they require special educational treatment or under Section 57 of the Education
Act 1944 (as amended by the Mental Health Act 1959) to ascertain whether they are
suffering from a disability of mind of such a nature or to such an extent as to make
them unsuitable for education at school. These examinations must be carried out by a
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