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22,569. The number of certificates of proficiency in swimming
awarded to school children during the year was 737. These included
65 certificates for swimming 880 yards. These numbers are considerably
smaller than those for previous years, owing to the fact
that the Western Road Baths were closed for reconstruction during
the first six months of the year.
XI.—PROVISION OF MEALS.
The Feeding Centre in White Hart Lane has been open throughout
the year, providing a hot mid-day meal to a large number of
the less fortunate of our school children. These children are, for
the most part, selected on economic grounds and are usually recommended
by the teachers in the schools, although a number are
recommended by myself on purely medical grounds. The Feeding
Centre is administered by the Director of Education, but responsibility
for the food supplied being wholesome and nutritious is
borne by the School Medical Officer. The dinners supplied are,
1 consider, good both as regards quantity and quality, and endeavour
is made to prevent monotony in the menus. The food is served
and the children waited on by a number of ladies, most of whom
are members of the Care Committee.
The number of children who received meals at the Centre
during the year was 166, and of this number 126 were fed free of
cost, 38 for part payment, and 2 for full payment. The total
number of meals provided was 16,698, of which 13,070 were given
free, 3,593 for part payment and 35 for full payment. The average
cost per meal was 5.5 pence, of which 2.5 pence represented the
actual cost of food and 3.0 pence the cost of administration.
In addition to the meals served at the Feeding Centre, 4,711
meals were provided at the School for the Partially Sighted, in
Lordship Lane, for the children attending there. Of these, 2,546
were given free, 200 for part payment and 1,965 for full payment.
These meals are cooked at the Feeding Centre.
Apart from this provision of meals, a number of children were
provided with milk at school free of cost, and a number of others
with malt and cod-liver oil at the School Clinic either free or at
cost price, on the recommendation of the School Medical Officer.
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