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(iii) Subsequent Medical Examination on Request:
The evidence available indicates that the special
examination of a child on request from a parent, teacher
orsome other person is the most appropriate examination
to provide for the continuous surveillance of children
once they are in school It is the most rewarding kind of
examination for identifying at an early stage those
defects which have arisen since entry to school If the
school health service is to be mindful of the efficiency
of its methods, it cannot disregard the extent to which
routine medical inspections record for the second or
third time defects known to have been present at an
earlier examination The combination of a comnrehensive
entrant examination and special examinations on request
has the added advantage that it makes minimal demands
on the doctor as a screener and maximal demands upon
him as a diagnostician and medical adviser
(iv) Periodic Parent Questionnaire:
When the child approaches the age of 8 and 11, parents
who have not previously requested an interview might
be asked if they have anything concerning the health
and development of their child about which they would
like to talk to theschool doctor The fact that the school
doctor finds no defects in a child whose parents asked
for another examination should not be regarded as a
criticism of the system of examinations on request nor
as evidence that the examination was a waste of time
(v) Periodic Screening Procedures:
The following five screening procedures might be
carried out at certain intervals during school life:-
Test of visual acuity;
Test of hearing;
Measurement of height and weight;
Survey of feet and back, of skin, and of
hygiene;
Cleanliness survey
It may be noted that existing arrangements in Havering
areacombination of the alternatives quoted in categories
(b) and (c) above and the principles adopted are close
to those set out in the suggestions (i — v) in the following
ways:-
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