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16
Miss L. Gilbert returned from Devon in May because the
majority of the Ealing children had by then returned home and
her services were needed in Ealing.
EVACUATION.
Owing to the absence of air raids during the year only a few
children were evacuated and arrangements were made for small
parties to go away when a sufficient number of applications were
received.
In all, 77 children were medically examined prior to evacuation.
At the end of the year there were only 1,650 school children
from the Borough in receiving areas.
MEDICAL INSPECTION.
The scheme for the routine medical inspection of school
children at three stages in their school life formerly recommended
by the Board of Education had to be modified. A circular issued
by the Board of Education suggested that, in view of the demands
of the Forces, local authorities should review the arrangements
for the School medical service in order to secure the greatest economy
of staff with the least detriment to the service. It also suggested
that it was essential that all children should be examined as soon
as possible after their admission to school, and that the examination
of " leavers " should be continued, although deferred to the last
year at school. The examination of children at 8 years, with the
exception of new admissions, was therefore discontinued after the
summer holidays, and children normally examined at 12 years
were examined at 13 years.
FINDINGS OF MEDICAL INSPECTION.
Among the 6,552 children examined in a routine manner there
were, excluding uncleanliness and dental disease, 523 defects
requiring treatment and 808 requiring to be kept under observation.
The examination of the 5,695 children submitted to special inspection
revealed 3,317 defects requiring treatment and 388 requiring to be
kept under observation.
Of the 6,552 children examined at the routine inspections,
508 or 7.7 per cent, were found to require treatment for one or more
defective conditions other than defective teeth or verminous
condition.