View report page

103
The selection of children is made from suitable cases of
insufficient nutrition observed in the course of medical inspection,
whether routine inspection or as special cases brought forward
by the teachers.
Records of these children are kept in most of the schools,
and their monthly weights are taken, so that the effect of the
Authority's dinners can be observed.
Other selections are made at the suggestion of the teachers
or School Nurse, and in some instances on the application of
the parents.
Careful inquiries are made by the Attendance Officers into
the circumstances of the families receiving benefits, and records
are kept. One condition of granting meals is that the parents
must be out of work, and if false evidence be given the parents
are prosecuted, and the cost of the dinners recovered.
The S.M.O. visits the dinner centre to test the satisfactory
working of the scheme.
The hygienic conditions of the centre are observed, also the
quality and quantity of the food provided, and surprise visits are
paid to ascertain that the menu is being followed. While watching
the children at dinner, any specially-delicate children are noticed
and their names and addresses are taken. These children are
subsequently medically examined, and, if necessary, provision is
made for them to obtain a country holiday through the help of the
Central Aid Society.
On the whole, the scheme is working fairly well, though the
conditions of service are not ideal, and the educational advantages
of refined table manners cannot be insisted upon, as there are no
lay helpers and the restaurant staff is hard-worked. In former
reports we have drawn attention to this point, but it does not
seem possible to obtain regular voluntary helpers to supervise
the conduct of the children.