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The school visiting programme has so far been maintained together
with talks to various groups. The number of students from London Training
Schools has had to be slightly reduced. It is obviously important to maintain
as many students as possible to help combat the shortage of speech
therapists, but also as a pool of potential applicants.
1972 has seen the end of a period of remarkably high staffing compared
to other Authorities. The start of the decline can be seen in 1971 and it
must be admitted that a return to full staffing as occurred in 1969 cannot be
predicted in the foreseeable future.
Statistics are in Appendix B, Page 54.
WEIGHT CONTROL CLINICS
Dr. W, Simmonds, Senior Departmental Medical Officer
It is proposed to extend the weight-control clinics to cover all schoolchildren
in Croydon and head teachers have been asked to submit a list of
those who might be helped by attending such sessions.
Meanwhile the boys' groups continued in the schools and clinics in
which they were already established, with a reasonable degree of success
among the "regulars" and of interest from new entrants and their parents.
The girls' groups were conducted by Miss Hunt and Mrs. Gartside until
July, and are now waiting to be integrated into the new system, which will
provide cover in areas which had so far not been served by a special clinic.
OTHER SERVICES
Transport of Children to Ordinary Schools
In the event of an accident or illness resulting in temporary disability,
the school medical officer is asked to decide whether special transport
should be provided to enable the child to attend school. Before making any
recommendation careful enquiries must be made to ensure not only that the
transport is justified but that the child will be able to work satisfactorily
when he eventually reaches the school. A child in a leg plasier may have
great difficulty in negotiating several flights of stairs in order to attend
various classes during the course of the day. School medical officers recommended
that special transport should be provided for 47 such children during
the year.
Convalescent Treatment
17 children received a convalescent holiday on the recommendation of
the school medical officer. These arrangements are not intended to provide
annual holidays for children whose parents are unable to provide them;
they are an essential part ofthe recuperative treatment provided for a child