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General.
"The children have two or more shower baths weekly. At one period
during the war, when the School roll was halved, it was found possible to
allow each child a daily shower. The general improvement in alertness was
so marked that it is unfortunate that the battery of showers is not big enough
to enable a full school to have daily shower baths.
"The School Nurse weighs and measures the children monthly and at
the same time holds a formal head inspection. The daily average of minor
ailments treated is 28. Malt and oil is given twice daily to about 70 children.
"The work of the Staff is arduous, often comfortless and trying,unusualy
so in winter, but the School is fortunate in that ' the child's welfare must come
first inspires the work of all.
" The Schoolkeeper and Cleaner are to be commended upon the state
of cleanliness throughout the School. When it is pointed out that walls and
paint-work have been untouched since 1938 and that the rooms are under
constant exposure to the elements it is no small achievement to keep the School
so clean and pleasant. The Central Kitchen attached to the School has
produced three meals daily of consistent quality. Quantity and variety,
occasionally affected by shortages, have been outstanding. The children's diet
is better now than it was before the war. The ration allowances for School
Canteens enables a good cook to serve meals of a very high standard in food
value and attractiveness. I consider this fact needs stressing as we are in the
habit of decrying the rationing system. The lack of sufficient fresh fruit is,
of course, unfortunate.
" I must thank the School Health Staff for the ready help and advice
so often asked for and received, and the parents for their co-operation. With
School, Health Department and Parents all working together the children reap
the maximum benefit from the open air regime."
(!) Educationally Subnormal Children.
" During the year 72 children were referred as educationally subnormal
and examined under Section 34 of the Education Act, 1944, and the following
is the analysis of the intelligence quotients
45- 51 - 56 - 61 - 66 - 71 - 76 - 81- 86- 91- 96- Over Section
50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 100 57 Total
Boys 1 2 4 4 3 6 4 3 2 2 — 1 7 39
Girls 4—47625—1 1 1 1 1 33
Total 72
" I set out below details of action taken in these cases :—
Recommended for admission to Durants Special School 36
Returned to Ordinary Schools 28
Dealt with under Section 57 of the Education Act, 1944 8
" Of the 36 recommended for Durants Special School only 10 have so
far been admitted ; it is to be regretted that there are still 26 waiting admission
and the names of new cases are constantly being added. No child has been
admitted since the 1st May, 1946, and as the School already has many pupils
over its complement it is probable that it will be many years before arrangements
will be made for their admission and, in some cases where a child was
referred after many years in the evacuation areas, difficulties will arise owing
to the fact that as they are still attending the ordinary school departments, they
will leave school at the age of 14 years instead of the age of 16 years in
accordance with Section 38 of the Education Act."
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