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Sanitary Inspection of School Premises
Sanitary Facilities and Catering Arrangements 1960
I am indebted to the Chief Public Health Inspector, Borough of Leyton, for the
following report:-
"In addition to routine inspection of school premises, a comprehensive detailed
survey of the sanitary facilities and catering arrangements at school premises, central
kitchens and dining centres was carried out by the Public Health Inspectors during the
year.
The standard of sanitary accommodation prescribed by regulations made under the
Education Acts refers especially to new school buildings and cannot, therefore, be
regarded as strictly applicable to existing schools, some of which were built a
generation or two ago.
Whereas, with few exceptions, it is found that older schools are not supplied with
water closets, urinals, wash-hand basins etc. on such a generous scale as is recommended
in the regulations for new school buildings, they approximate to those standards so
closely that no official recommendation was considered necessary. Sanitary conveniences
and fittings were found to be in a reasonable state of repair, good working order, and
free from nuisance.
The standard of premises, equipment and general facilities provided for school
catering was judged in the light of current legislation. The Food Hygiene Regulations
1955/57 have now been amended and consolidated by the Food Hygiene (General) Regulations,
1960, the effect of which is to increase their scope. An instance of this is contained
in Regulation 9, which makes it an offence to use herbal smoking mixture in a room
containing open food - under the old regulations tobacco only was prohibited. The
Minister of Health, and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in conjunction
with the Food Hygiene Advisory Council, have published this year codes of practice in
relation to certain food trades.
In general the standard of hygiene in the preparation, cooking, distribution and
serving of school meals was found reasonably satisfactory, and compares favourably with
the general standard found in commercial establishments and industrial canteens. It was,
however, necessary on completion of the detailed survey to make recommendations
regarding comparatively minor infringements of the regulations at a number of schools;
these were concerned mainly with works of maintenance and decoration. Close liaison was
maintained between the Public Health Inspectorate and the School Meals Organiser during
the detailed survey.
The most effective form of Health Education in regard to food hygiene is obtained
by personal contact between the officer and food handler. With this objective in view,
many routine visits to school kitchens and dining centres are made by the Public Health
Inspectorate; we have always found catering staff at such centres to be co-operative
in their readiness to accept recommendations and advice in connection with the observance
of hygienic practices, and the necessity for strict personal cleanliness in ensuring
that the best possible use is made of existing premises and available equipment and
facilities.
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