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RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SPECIAL SCHOOLING
Recommendations were made for some children to be admitted to special schools, which after special
medical examinations, the examining medical officers felt would be more suitable for them than ordinary
schools. These recommendations were vetted by the Deputy Principal School Medical Officer before being
passed to the Education Officers Department. Hospital reports etc, were also often taken into account.
No. of recommendations sent in 1969.
For day schools for the delicate 1(10)
For day schools for physically handicapped children 12 (10)
For boarding open air schools 11 (3)
After physical medical examinations, vision and hearing tests other children were examined under Section
34 of the Education Act 1944 by specially trained medical officers and recommendations were approved
by a Principal Medical Officer who specialised in this work. Arrangements were made for interpreters to
attend at 44 of these examinations.
No. of recommendations made in 1969.
For day schools for educationally subnormal children 89 (103)
For boarding schools for educationally subnormal children 1 (3)
To continue at ordinary school possibly with extra help in reading, Arithmetic etc. 66 (79)
Seven (3) children were recommended for home tuition.
SCHOOL NURSES' INSPECTIONS
During 1969 24,618 (21,195) comprehensive health surveys were held at which most pupils were
examined annually by the school nurse for cleanliness of the head and other aspects, e.g. squint, ear discharge
and nutritional state. Where necessary children were referred for further investigation or treatment.
0.88 (1.24%) were found verminous.
10,230 (6,292) selective health surveys were carried out when necessary and 1.92 (1.53%) were found
verminous.
Vision testing was carried out as part of each periodic medical inspection except for "entrants" to
infant schools who were tested as soon as possible after admission.
All infants were given an audiometer test as soon as possible after entry to school.
REMEDIAL FOOT CLASSES
Two organisers of remedial classes were employed part-time by the Inner London Education Authority
to assist with the arranging and running of simple exercise classes by teachers who had attended a course
organised by the Education Officer at the College of Physical Education.
Unfortunately some of the teachers trained to take remedial foot classes were no longer available and
the number of schools in which these were held was reduced to 9 (11).
The co-operation of the head teachers Who made the necessary arrangements to enable the classes to
be held in these schools and of the teachers who volunteered for and carried out this work was much
appreciated.
All classes were visited by a Medical Officer at the beginning and end of each term.
AUDIOLOGY
As soon as possible after entry to school, all infants were given a routine sweep test, 7,025 (7,647)
being carried out by school nurses in 1969. Where these tests showed any doubt as to the children's hearing
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