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94
CO-OPERATION' OF VOLUNTARY BODIES.
Valuable information in regard to crippled and other defective
children has been supplied from time to time by the school
nurses, health visitors and Tuberculosis Dispensary, while close
contact has been maintained with the local branch of the National
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. The following
is a brief resume of the work done by the Society in Barking
during the past year:—
Total number of cases investigated 12
(a) neglect 10
(b) ill-treatment 2
BLIND, DEAF, DEFECTIVE AND EPILEPTIC
CHILDREN.
Table 3, Appendix (a), gives an account of defective chiidren
under the age of sixteen. All such children are specially examined
as to their suitability for special schools, and recommendations
made in appropriate cases. Blind and deaf children, after certification
by the School Medical Officer, are admitted to special
schools, day or residential, according to recommendation.
NURSERY SCHOOLS.
No nursery schools have yet been established in this district,
although in certain selected cases children of 4 to 5 years have
been admitted to the Infants' Departments of certain elementary
schools.
The institution of Nursery Schools has never been regarded
by many Local Education Authorities with favour mainly from the
tendency thereby created to relieve parental responsibility, and
from a social standpoint the encouragement of female labour.
It cannot be too strongly emphasised that the ordinary elementary
school is in no way suitable for the child of pre-school age, while
the provision of suitable nursery school accommodation for the
limited number who might appropriately be admitted, would far
outweigh financially any benefit which might accrue from the
practice.