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APPENDIX F
St. James' House
Hilary R.G. Lennox, M.B., B.S., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., D.C.H.
St. James' House was opened in September 1968 as a special reception
and education centre for immigrant children.
The centre caters for the following children.
(a) those of school age, newly arrived in the U.K. who have not previously
attended school;
(b) those of school age who have come to Croydon, having recently arrived
in the U.K., having attended a British school for less than one term.
(c) those of 5 years of age who arrived in the U.K. after their first
birthday.
The children registered at St. James' House are interviewed with a parent
by the Advisor to the Centre, so that their educational attainments can be
assessed and the children placed, as soon as possible, in a suitable local
school. Most children stay at the Centre for only a short time. Pupils of secondary
age are interviewed by Inspectors to determine the type of secondary
school to which they should be admitted. The aim of St. James' House is to
give, where necessary, immigrant children the simple rudiments of the English
language before they are admitted to school.
Children who have been registered at the Centre are called back there for
a routine medical examination at the earliest opportunity. It is usual for a
parent to be present at the medical so that any problems arising can be discussed
with the Medical Officer, and appropriate advice given, e.g. Specialist
and/or General Practitioner referral, immunisations needed, etc. Ten children
are sent for each session, this being fewer than at routine medical inspections
at local schools. The presence of the parent gives the child confidence,
and the longer time given for each appointment enables the Medical Officer to
obtain as full a medical history as possible, as well as time to explain how
the necessary referrals will be undertaken.
Between October 1968 and December 1969 , 377 children between the age
of 5 and 16 were medically examined. The numbers are given in the table below
together with a summary of findings (see Table 4, page for comparison). The
immigrant children have been divided into four groups on the basis of place of
origin, as follows:—
European - includes those from Europe, North America, New Zealand,
Australia, Canada.
Asian - includes those from Pakistan, India and Asian from African Continent.
British West Indies.
Others - includes Singapore, Burma, Africa, Middle East, Japan.