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During the year 6 children were allowed to leave school before reaching the age of 16 years,
9 children were allowed to attend ordinary elementary schools, 4 children were transferred to residential
institutions, 2 children obtained scholarships at trade schools and one child was transferred to
Leinster M.D. School.
The school dinners are brought from Gibbons Road Feeding Centre and are served in the School
Hall. Practically all of the children take the school dinners.
One Trained Nurse is attached to the school. She treats minor ailments as required and supervises
the personal cleanliness and the care of the teeth and hair of the children. She arranges for
the repair of surgical instruments and boots. She also gives the children the nutritive drugs ordered
by the doctor.
The school is visited by the Certifying Medical Officer once a fortnight, and each child is seen
every six months. The parents are notified of any defects found which require attention.
The majority of the children at this school who are actually crippled attend periodically an
Orthopaedic Hospital or an Orthopaedic Department of a General Hospital; and in addition, facilities
for treatment of this kind are available at the Stonebridge Health Centre, where a Specialist visits
twice monthly and the requisite nursing staff is in daily attendance.
Convalescence.—The Education Committee have made arrangements with the Russell-Cotes
School of Recovery, Parkstone, near Bournemouth, for the reservation of places for 9 boys and 4
girls. Early in the year the number of places at this Institution was reduced to 6 boys and 4 girls
but was subsequently increased to the present number. This home was provided by the donors as
a country residence near the sea for poor town boys and girls who are anaemic and debilitated, and
who are physically defective within the meaning of the Education Act, 1921 ; and it is recognised
by the Board of Education as a Special Residential School. The boys and girls are selected both
from the physically defective and the ordinary elementary schools, and the duration of the stay is
six weeks, except in special cases when an additional six weeks stay can be arranged. All the cases
which have been to the institution have shown a distinct improvement on their return home. In
all 66 boys and 23 girls were admitted to the school during the year.
The Education Committee have arranged the reservation of places for 10 girls at St. Patrick's
Open Air School, Hayling Island, Hants., and 5 boys at St. Dominic's Open Air School, Godalming,
Surrey. Early in the year the number of places at these institutions was reduced to 5 girls and 3
boys respectively but was subsequently increased to the present numbers. The children are selected
both from the physically defective and the ordinary elementary schools and the duration of stay is
6 weeks. All the cases sent have shown a definite improvement on their return home. In all, 81
girls and 39 boys were admitted during the year.
The arrangements with the Middlesex Edward VII Memorial Fund for the reservation of 4
places at Collington Manor, Bexhill, for anaemic and debilitated children were discontinued during
the year. 7 boys were admitted to this institution during the year.
Work of the Willesden Branch of the Invalid Children's Aid Association, 1932.—
175 new cases were referred to this Association during the year, 38 of these being referred by the
Willesden Health Department. The majority of the patients were suffering from anaemia and debility.
In addition 16 surgical appliances were supplied.
Stammering Children.—There are three classes for stammering children held twice weekly
at Wesley Road, Percy Road and Kensal Rise Schools, and conducted by Mr. A. D. Bradfield. The
class at Percy Road consists of boys, and the classes at Wesley Road and Kensal Rise include both
boys and girls. Each class lasts one hour. Cases of stammering are referred to the Health Department
for examination as to their suitability for admission to the stammering class.
SECONDARY AND TRADE SCHOOLS.
During the year the arrangement by which the medical staff of the Willesden Council carry
out the inspection of pupils attending Secondary and Trade Schools in Willesden on behalf of the
Middlesex County Council has continued.
910 examinations of secondary school pupils have been carried out during the year 1932.
360 defects were found amongst the scholars examined. Parents and Head Teachers are
notified of defects and are advised as to the action to be taken.
The Middlesex County Council have not up to the present arranged to put in operation the
scheme of treatment for defective vision and dental defects referred to in the 1930 annual report.
PROVISION OF MEALS.
197,821 meals were supplied in 1932 as compared with 138,361 in 1931, 119,831 in 1930, and
98,104 in 1929.
The recipients of these meals are mainly children of the unemployed, widows and deserted
wives.