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and much thought needs to be given to the phasing of the
immunisation programme to avoid any undue dislocation of
the general health supervision of the schoolchildren.
One of the most important functions of the School
Health Service is the ascertainment of children suffering
from handicaps and their selection for special education.
The categories of handicap as set out in the School Health
Service and Handicapped Pupils' Regulations, 1953 are no
fewer than ten and include blind, deaf, educationally sub-normal,
epileptic, maladjusted, physically handicapped and delicate
children. It is our constant endeavour that a handicapped
child should lead as normal a life as he can and, wherever
possible, attend an ordinary school. There are many
cases, however, when the handicap is so severe that the
child could not settle down in an ordinary school and might
even be exposed to physical danger or social isolation. In
these cases a special school carefully chosen to meet the
needs of the child is the best solution but it should be our
aim, by regular re-assessment of the child's potentialities, to
transfer him back to an ordinary school as and when this
becomes possible. The essence of the supervision of handicapped
children is to teach them to accept and to come to
terms with their disabilities and to fit them for as normal
a life as possible in society when their school days are over.
Once again it is my pleasure to acknowledge the excellent
co-operation that exists between head teachers, parents,
school medical officers and health visitors and to refer to
the work of the education welfare officers whose reports on
families and individual children are instrumental in bringing
to our notice many departures from health as early as
possible.
I have already recorded the excellent team work of all
members of the staff on which the success of the School
Health Service so largely depends and I wish, also, to express
my appreciation of the help which I have received during the
year from the Chairman and Members of the Committee,
from Miss Smith, the Senior Clerk, from the County Medical
Officer and his staff and from the Borough Education Officer
and his Department.
I am, Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
John Landon,
Medical Officer of Health
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