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The actual number of children away at these schools at one time in 1937 was:
Rushy Park, 248; St. Leonards, 62; Margate, 94; Broadstairs, 20; Bournemouth,
31; Hastings, 7; Sandon, 19. Total, 481 children, of whom 214 were girls
and 267 boys.
The small home at Sandon accommodates the children needing a country
holiday from the various types of special schools.
The length of stay of boys at the King's Canadian camp school, which was
formerly limited during the summer months to four weeks, was increased to six
weeks throughout the year. This resulted in reducing the number of boys sent during
the year, but gave more lasting benefit. The six Weeks' stay is now the rule for all
these schools.
The headmaster of the school refers to the alteration in organisation consequent
upon the increase in length of stay of the boys from four to six weeks. Additional
facilities for physical education have been provided. Extension of stay beyond
six weeks was granted to 141 boys on medical advice. Nine hundred and fifty boys
received dental treatment, and there were 22,812 separate treatments by the
resident nursing staff for minor ailments.
The number of open-air classes held in connection with the elementary schools
in 1937 was 225. Of these, 7 were of type A (children selected on medical grounds
from a group of schools); 110 were of type B (children selected on medical grounds
from the various classes of a single school); 20 were of type C (consisting of a single
class from one school, educated continuously at one open-air station); and 74 of
type D (consisting in a rotation of classes from one school occupying one open-air
station).
Fourteen classes are permanent, that is to say they are outside the yearly programme
and do not need re-authorisation each year. In addition, 114 of the 225
classes were continued throughout the winter, where the suitability of the sites had
been approved by the school medical officer. Of the 225 classes, 79 were held in
parks, gardens, playing-fields and other open sites, while 146 were held in school
playgrounds, of which 39 were roof playgrounds.
Very noteworthy is the great increase in the proportion of the classes which are
carried on all through the year. As in the case of the open-air school, timidity in
regard to the open-air regime has more and more given way to frank appreciation of
its benefits and boldness in carrying its tenets to their logical conclusion.
A very large number of detailed reports are received upon the classes, which
testify to the devoted work which is carried out by the teachers, school nurses and
school doctors at the open-air classes, but this work is in almost every instance amply
repaid by the results shown in the improved health and progress of the children.
Open-air
classes in
parks and
playgrounds