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In all, there was a total of 12,441 children under 5 years of age on the school
rolls, 9,270 being in Council schools, and 3,171 in voluntary or aided schools.
There were 10 residential nursery schools, with accommodation for 504 children
between 2 and 5 years of age.
All the children attending nursery schools are provided with 3 meals daily (two
light meals in the case of nursery classes) in addition to mid-morning milk, cod-liver
oil and orange juice. Each child is examined every 3 months by the doctor, and a
school nurse visits each day.
Remand homes
Dr. C. W. J. Ingham reports as follows on the work of the Stamford House and
Marlesford Lodge Remand Homes:—
From 1st January up to 10th August, 1946, the medical services of the remand
homes were in the charge of Dr. J. D. W. Pearce, as part-time medico-psychologist.
The number of special psychiatric reports asked for and submitted were : Male,
433 ; female, 68 ; total, 501.
From 10th August to 31st December, 1946, changes of medical personnel resulted
in a variation of the arrangements in the remand homes:—
(1) Routine physical examinations and treatment of casual sick cases
were undertaken by a medical officer of the School Health Service.
(2) Psychiatric investigation and preparation of all psychiatric special
reports were undertaken by psychiatrists from the Maudsley Hospital
except in cases where states of educational subnormalitv, within the meaning
of Section 34 of the Education Acts 1944-46, or feeble-mindedness within
the meaning of Section 1 of the Mental Deficiency Acts, 1913 27, were
suspected.
(3) All statutory examinations and reports under Education or Mental
Deficiency Acts, including attendance at Courts were undertaken by
specialist medical officers of the Public Health Department.
During this period 613 cases were admitted.
Detailed physical examinations were carried out in every case admitted irrespective
of any special request from the Courts. The number of routine mental and
psychometric reports were: Male, 58; female, 7 ; total, 65.
Thirty-one special 'conduct' reports were requested by the magistrates and
supplied by the superintendents of the remand homes.
The number of special psychiatric reports asked for and supplied were : Male,
180 ; female, 42 ; total, 222.
Problem children
The Council's scheme, established in 1944, to co-ordinate the special children's
care work by the reference of the particulars of all school children presenting difficulties
in behaviour or of educability to a case conference of senior officers of the
Education Officer's and School Medical Officer's departments, in each of the 9
divisions into which London is divided for educational purposes, was continued
during 1946.
A full dossier of the child's home, family and social background, his medical and
educational history, and his conduct and educational progress in and out of school
and at home, is available for consideration of the case conference. Interviews with
parents, teachers and others interested, can be arranged, and the views of the head
teacher and school medical officer are taken into account by the conference.
Visits were made by a psychiatrist of the Council's Mental Health Services to
ensure consistency in appreciating the types of cases for which child guidance is
suitable, the underlying consideration being that the child would be directed into
the channel best suited to his age, aptitude and ability.