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instances, the further information from either the Head or the parent has resulted in the
child being allowed a further extension of trial in an ordinary school. Specialist investigation
and examination of difficult cases such as multiple defects, and cases referred by the
Divisional Medical Officer for special reasons is carried out centrally at the County Hall
under the direct supervision of a principal medical officer. When necessary these children
are seen in consultation with various visiting consultant specialists, e.g., ophthalmic
surgeon, ear, nose and throat surgeon or psychiatrist.
Detailed figures of the ascertainment and general supervision of E.S.N, children
are given in the tables on pages 108-109. It will be noted that the over-all figures show a
considerable increase on the numbers quoted in preceding years. This does not mean
that there is in fact a big increase in the incidence of sub-normal intelligence but is due
more to the modern feeling that children of I.Qs. of 75 per cent.—80 per cent., or in
some instances 85 per cent., whose educational attainments are low, progress more
rapidly under special school education than in backward streams in the ordinary schools,
and also that in certain types of combined E.S.N, and maladjustment, admission to an
E.S.N, school has been found preferable to admission to a school for maladjusted.
Day open-air
schools
A survey was initiated in April, 1953, with the object of comparing the heights, weight
and sickness absence of pupils attending day open-air schools, and thus being able to
assess the merits of the different types of such schools in relation to the physical progress
of the pupils.
The observations were designed to be recorded over a period of one year, to take
account of seasonal variation, beginning with the summer term of 1953. A record form
was designed for recording monthly heights and weights and sickness absence, but
special inspections and measurements were not required.
The schools included in the survey consisted of:
Type 'A'—old 'open' type, i.e. classroom shelters with 3 foot wooden walls.
Type 'B'—new type, i.e. brick and glass classrooms electrically heated.
Type 'C'—folding screen type.
Type 'D'—half wall type, i.e. openable upper wooden walls.
Type 'E'—Type 'A' after enclosure (see below).
Two difficulties arose during the currency of the survey which prevented the original
comparison of progress over a year being effected. First, because of initial staffing
difficulties, the survey did not start at Type 'D' until the autumn term of 1953, and
second, and more important, all Type 'A' were enclosed during the period from
November, 1953, to January, 1954, thus becoming Type ' E and Type ' D ' were
heated at the same time.
Although record forms were submitted for 1,680 pupils, 412 were rejected because
the child concerned was not a pupil for the whole of one or other of the various
periods selected for comparative purposes.
Sickness
absence
As there were so few children over the age of ten years at Type 'C' it was decided to
restrict the survey to those under that age. The average number of absences at Type 'E'
was found to be of the same order, and there was no difference between the sexes
(boys 1.74 ± 0.40, girls 1.72 ± 0.40), consequently it was thought reasonable to combine
the sexes in order to draw conclusions from a larger sample.
It was only possible to compare four types over the Easter term, 1954, for reasons
already stated:
Average days'
Type absence
'B' 7.5
'C' 7.7
'D' 9.3
'E' 8.3
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