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Health education in schools
Some health education by health visitors and school nurses is
carried out at all comprehensive health surveys when help and
advice can be given to individual children as required. Many
older boys and girls take this opportunity to seek advice from
the school nurse on personal health problems.
More formal teaching is undertaken regularly in eight schools
in the Borough. In these schools the health visitors or school
nurses take part in a course planned in conjunction with the
school staff on some aspect of health education or social studies.
For instance, one school had a series of studies on "Revolution"
and the health visitor discussed with the girls "Revolution of Medicine".
Others gave talks on the local health services and arranged
visits to local nurseries and clinics for some of the students. One
very successful venture has been a regular visit to one of the
Colleges of Education in the Borough when a health education film
is shown and the health visitors answer questions and take part in
the discussion.
The health education team employed by the Inner London
Education Authority have again given their valuable services in
Wandsworth and have visited a number of schools in the area
by direct arrangement with the Heads of Schools. The team have
also organized health education publicity in the Greater London
Council Parks.
Student health service
This service continued to operate satisfactorily at the Southwest
London College, Tooting Broadway. In addition, routine
medical examinations were carried out at four of the Colleges of
Education in Wandsworth, viz. Whitelands College, Garnett College,
Furzedown College of Education and Battersea College of
Education.
Sanitary conditions in schools
All school premises are inspected annually by the medical staff
who offer advice concerning the sanitary conditions and standards
of hygiene. Reports concerning defects are passed on to the
Divisional Education Officer of the I.L.E.A. for attention.
Medical staff meetings
Developments in the school health service were discussed by
the Senior Medical Officers and the school physicians at meetings
of the medical staff which took place during the year. A number
of subjects were discussed including the question of immunization
schedules. Immunization is a subject which must be constantly
under review due to the new techniques which are introduced from
time to time. The medical officers also discussed the indications
for the transfer of pupils between ordinary and special schools.