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SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE
The School Health Service is the longest established mandatory service to cover a specific
population group. As far back as 1904 medical policy makers stressed the negative effect of
physical defects on school performance and suggested that discovery of such defects be made
a matter for team work between school Medical Officers and teachers.
Subsequent changes in the social pattern brought about the Education Act 1944 which
gave a much wider remit to the School Health Service. Whilst it is the duty of the Local
Education Authority to provide every child with education according to his age, ability and
aptitude, it is the duty of the School Health Service to seek out and assess children requiring
educational provision either as an alternative or a complement to the "normal" school.
To achieve the objective that every child is given help to attain its full potential the Service
must fulfill three conditions:
1. Involve itself with the child before his school entry age.
2. Evolve a simple but foolproof procedure to cover the whole school population.
3. It must be truly comprehensive i.e. capable of calling in all the specialist services to
advise on conditions likely to affect the child's educational and social growth adversely.
EARLY DIAGNOSIS
The Health Department is alerted to a handicapping condition in one of many ways.
1. The "At Risk" register — this is reported on in the Maternity and Child Health Section.
2. The information and/or request for action can come from members of the M.O.H's staff
e.g. Health Visitors; other Local Health Authorities on change of address, family doctors
or Hospital Consultants.
As soon as practicable a full assessment by a suitably qualified and experienced Medical
Officer is arranged, preferably at the child's home where the conditions for examining the child
and counselling the parents are optimal.
Before the initial assessment is made an on going two way communications is put in train
between bur own specialists in developmental paediatrics and the Hospital Paediatrician.
Following such an assessment, ancillary support services can be brought in e.g. rehousing,
day placement, with or without subvention of fees.
A child requiring skilled handling and/or observation is placed in one of the four assessment
groups. From the educational aspect, such early and accurate assessment has manifold advantages
to the child. When a sufficiently firm diagnosis is made the Chief Education Officer is advised
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