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192 school children were invited to observe the work carried out at infant welfare
clinics, day nurseries and mothers' clubs. In addition, a programme of film shows was
presented at three of Southwark's infant welfare centres during the summer holidays;
1,535 children attended. The films covered a wide variety of subjects including home
and road safety, swimming, smoking and prevention of infection. Nature films and
cartoons were also shown. School nurses were in attendance and encouraged discussion
after each film.
Handicapped Register
The handicapped register is a well-established feature of the school health service.
Records are maintained of all handicapped children attending Southwark schools and
particular attention was given to those children who attended ordinary schools. In
addition, many Southwark children attend the physically handicapped school in the
London Borough of Lambeth and, as well as keeping a comprehensive file on these
children, my senior assistant medical officer paid regular visits to the school to
maintain contact with the Southwark children and to plan the future of the school
leavers. In this connection, I must mention the close co-operation which exists
between my Department, the Welfare Department and the Youth Employment Service
to ensure the proper placement of handicapped school leavers.
During 1967, approximately 1,000 children on the handicapped register were
attending ordinary schools; a further 709 were attending day E.S.N, schools; 192
were in day special schools other than E.S.N, and 168 in boarding schools.
Student Health Service
An advisory Student Health Service has been set up in Southwark and is provided
for the London School of Printing and the Southwark College of Further
Education. The service deals primarily with emotional problems and has proved of
great benefit, particularly to those students who have left home or their country for
the first time.
Report of the Principal School Dental Officer
The introduction of a ten-session week for all dental staff and the adoption
of a new appointments system based on individual surgeries marked the beginning of
1967.
Each surgery was made responsible for a certain number of schools in its immediate
neighbourhood and appointments were issued direct from the surgery. School
inspections were in the main carried out by the same staff who treated the children.
The object of these changes was to strengthen the association between the school and
clinic, to make a more efficient and personal service and to improve attendance rates.
The ten-session week, which was achieved by lengthening slightly the daily sessions,
was a change welcomed by dental staff as it brought to an end the compulsory evening
session. Evening sessions are now voluntary and are held as and when necessary.
The feature of the year was the increase in the number of school dental inspections
which, added to clinic inspections, brought the number of children inspected
96