View report page

100
Nutrition.
The Provision of Meals Act, 1906, is put in force in this
district to provide free meals for those children where poverty
appears to be the cause of their mal-nutrition thus rendering
them unable to obtain full benefit from their education at school.
The method most practicable in this district is to enter into
arrangement with two restaurants—one in Acton Lane and the
other in Osborne Road—where dinners are supplied at a cost of
2d. or 2½d. per head.
The advantage of this method is that initial outlay is
avoided and there is no disturbance of the work of the schools.
On the other hand it is impossible to secure the same
educational effect at a local restaurant (where many children
appear at the same moment and the restaurant staff is hard
worked) as could be obtained at an organised centre where more
attention could be given to training in deportment, by methodical
service, by requiring the children to come with washed hands
and faces, and enforcing good manners at table.
Owing to local conditions it is impossible to secure a special
dinner centre at present, but improvement would result if
voluntary helpers would attend regularly to supervise the conduct
of the children. Only one helper each day would be required
at a centre as the accommodation is limited, but the restaurant
keepers are glad of the refining influence on the children.
The selection of the children is made at the suggestion of
the teachers or school nurse, or as the result of mal-nutrition
found on medical inspection where poverty appears to be the
cause of insufficient height and weight.
Careful enquiries are made by the Attendance Officers into
the circumstances of the families receiving benefit and records
are kept.
During the year 1910, 21,990 dinners have been supplied to
425 children at a total cost of £202 13s. 6½d.