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99
Provision of Meals.
The Local Authority does not exercise the facilities
under Section 82/84 of the Education Act, 1921. Milk is,
however, provided in schools at cost to the parent, and in
necessitous cases at the cost of the Children's Care
Committee. Six hundred and ninety-eight children
received half-pint ration of pasteurised milk daily.
Physical Training.
The syllabus on physical training is carried out as
a routine. There are no gymnasium halls in the
elementary schools, and the playing field accommodation
for elementary schools is very limited. Organised games
in the playground are effective in some of the schools,
but make a poor substitute. The economical difficulties
remain an obstacle to this development, especially during
the period when new schools are required for the growth
of population which must have first claim for expenditure.
Blind, Defective and Epileptic Children.
Table III. in the appendix gives statistical details of
these children.
These cases are referred to the School Medical
Service by Head Teachers, School Attendance Officers
and by medical certificates of the family doctor. Many
of the cases are brought to the knowledge of the
Department during the Maternity and Child Welfare
years and prior to their entry to school.
The following-up of these children and the provision
of special education to meet their physical disability is
not an easy task. Our proximity to London and the
co-operative facilities offered by the London County
Council aid greatly in providing accommodation at day
special schools. We have no day special schools or
special classes for physically defective children in
Bromley, but Table III. will indicate the number of
children in residential schools and day schools for the
specially defective children.