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(2) The Wanstead House School at Margate for 60 girls, taking 480 girls
annually,
(3) The Barham House School at St. Leonards for 64 girls, taking 600
gills annually.
(4) An arrangement with the Shaftesbury Society to take 30 girls at the
Russell-Cotes Home, Parkstone; provides for 240 girls annually.
(5) An arrangement with the "Save the Children Fund" authorities by
which the London school organisation sends girls to Fairfield House, Broadstairs;
provides for 200 annually.
The last is a new addition during the year to this type of institution and is
maintained by voluntary funds, no part of the cost falling upon the rates.
The period of stay of children at the schools has again come under review during
the year. The length of stay has been a varying one in the different schools; at the
King's Canadian camp school the stay is four weeks; at Wanstead House six weeks,
at Barham House four weeks, and at the Russell-Cotes Home six weeks.
In his annual report for 1924, Sir William Hamer quoted a special investigation
on the physical results of a visit of 30 girls to the Russell-Cotes Home from 24th July
to 30th August. The results were remarkable and uniformly excellent on the general
health of the girls. The average increase in weight over five weeks was 5 lb. 7.78 oz.,
a most satisfactory result. Practically the same results are obtained in the six weeks
period of stay at Wanstead House.
Sir William Hamer stated that he had no reservation in his opinion that the
short term period is a most economical and successful way of improving the health
and physique of the particular class of child in London in whose interests it was
devised. It is true that the medical officers and the workers of the administrative
staffs at the various homes are generally unanimous in recommending a longer stay.
No doubt this opinion is chiefly based upon interest in the children under their
charge, but it must also be remarked that the frequent changes of children cause
the officers more anxiety and trouble. An extension all round of the time of stay to
three months would reduce by much more than one half the number of children now
being dealt with under the present arrangements. So much benefit is undoubtedly
obtained from the stay of six weeks that it may not be said there is sufficient
justification for doubling the length of stay, and thus halving the number of children
who would be able to take advantage of the present arrangements.
It will be remembered that when the Council surveyed the arrangements to be
made for open-air education, it was decided that the numerous voluntary convalescent
homes which exist catered fairly satisfactorily for the child who required prolonged
convalescent treatment, but that there was a class of child requiring a short holiday
under camp school conditions for which there was no provision made, and the "camp
schools" as they were originally called, were brought into existence to serve the
need of this class. A wholesale extension of time would approximate the Council's
residential open-air schools more to the convalescent home type, and there would be
an encroachment on the field of voluntary effort, which it is the policy of the Council
to assist.
At the present time it is possible to give an extension of stay in particular
cases upon the advice of the local medical officer ; but in view of the administrative
difficulties raised by last moment extensions of stay, involving disappointment to
candidates prepared to go on a particular date, it has been necessary to keep such
extensions down to a minimum. In these circumstances, it would appear that the
six weeks' period is the best for this type of school.
It will be seen from the statement at the beginning of this report, that at two
of the three homes to which girls are sent, the period is six weeks, while at one
(Barham House) the period is only four weeks. This distinction was made because
Barham House, at first, was used partly as a school journey centre and partly as a