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124
suggesting that the Education Authority should transmit to
the latter Committee the names of any children leaving school
who were considered to be unfit to take their place in any
particular type of industry. A system has therefore been
evolved by which a special record is kept of any child having
such a defect, the child being kept under periodical observation
until he leaves school.
As the last routine examination takes place from 12 years
of age onwards a certain number of children may develop
such defects between the time of their last examination and
their leaving school. Facilities are, however, provided for
special examinations, and as the parents and teachers are
encouraged to refer for examination any child whom they
suspect of suffering from a defect, the risk of such a child
being missed is slight.
A most careful assessment is made of the child's physical
condition, medical history, and probable future capacity,
before a recommendation is made as it is obviously a serious
matter for a child's future if any industrial outlet is barred
to him because of an adverse medical report.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Children has also co-operated in the work of the School
Medical Services in connection with children of school age
whose non-attendance at school was alleged to be due to
neglect in the home. During the financial year 1936/37,
officers of this Society, at the request of the Authority, paid
30 visits to 8 families in respect of 14 children. The intervention
of the Society's officers had beneficial results in each case
and dispensed with the necessity for Police Court Proceedings
being taken by the Authority against the parents. In addition,
the Society has placed its Ambulance at the disposal of the
Authority, free of charge, for the purpose of conveying a
child to a Heart Home. The Local Education Authority made
a contribution of £5 5s. Od. to the Society for these services.