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Of these 135 had been placed in special residential schools, 49
in special day schools, 6 in independent schools, 9 received home
tuition and 274 were in maintained primary and secondary schools.
The delicate children form the largest group.
Many are treated in the ordinary schools by the provision of
extra nutrients and special supervision—others need to go away for
periods of convalescence or have spells at open air schools.
During the year the report of the Chief Medical Officer of
the Ministry of Education strongly criticised the running of a number
of the Open Air Schools and suggested that with improved hygienic
standards in the new schools, special open air schools would not be
required in the future. The beneficial effects on the children of
treatment at the Open Air Schools maintained by the Middlesex
County Council has been striking—and these schools will continue
to serve a useful function so long as overctowding of school premises
remains, and it is necessary to use old and out-dated buildings. The
parents of children who have attended the Open Air Schools have
unanimously praised the facilities, premises and effect on the
children.
There has been a reduction in the waiting list for special
schools for educationally subnormal children, following the provision
of several new schools in Middlesex, but the waiting list for
ineducable children who require institutional care is as long as ever.
Two opportunity classes in the Brentside School have continued to
successfully treat the milder cases. A proposal to extend these
facilities has unfortunately proved impractical owing to lack of
suitable premises.
The first residential school for the treatment of children with
severe speech defects has been opened in recent years and has done
very useful pioneer work in this field. One child from Ealing has
been placed in the school.
OPHTHALMIC SERVICE
Children with defects of vision are referred from the school
doctors and minor ailments clinic to the care of the Consultant
Ophthalmologist, Mr. Freeman Heal, and seen at the Mattock Lane
and Ravenor Park Clinics.
The total number of cases seen was 1522 (1951—1214) of which
469 (1951—468) were new cases and 1053 (1951—746) re-inspections.
The number of glasses prescribed was 812 (1951—799).
Abnormal eye conditions other than errors of refraction were
as follows: