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142
Particular satisfaction was expressed that the pupils of all maintained
schools have this year received a dental inspection. These
inspections are a statutory requirement and though many children
also visit their own dental practitioners for inspection and treatment
and are encouraged to make these attendances, they do so at
varying intervals often too infrequently.
The welfare, equipment and working conditions of the dental
surgeons has been the constant concern of the Principal School
Dental Officer and as a result, high standards of quality have been
maintained.
This year the promotion of dental hygiene by personal visits
to Welfare Clinics and to Headmasters and Headmistresses of
schools has been developed and has supplemented the excellent
work of our dental hygienist. The very long-term policy must be to
eliminate even the need for a dental conservation service.
Health Education
Talks on Health Education and Home Safety have been given
at schools, meetings of Parent Teachers' Associations, Teachers'
Training Colleges, Youth Clubs and other Centres.
This work is organised by the Health Education and Home
Safety Officer and the Superintendent Health Visitor under the
general direction of the Senior Medical Officer.
Handicapped Children
The appointment of two teachers for the Deaf has enabled a
practical start to be made in the comprehensive assessment and
educational treatment of deaf children.
Arrangements are being made for rooms at a conveniently
central clinic to be adapted by sound-proofing to enable examinations
and interviews to take place and eventually for a Unit to be
established. Hearing aids and auditory trainers are being provided.
Special classes are being established in schools to replace those
no longer available in schools now sited in other Boroughs, who
are also expanding their own services.
The Committee are following a policy in line with modern
thought, by providing special educational treatment, as far as
possible, in normal schools, for those educationally normal but
otherwise handicapped.
Assistant School Medical Officers and Health Visitors are
learning new specialist skills in the earlier ascertainment of defects,
especially of sight and hearing and of those arising from developmental
defects and are keeping abreast of current research and
knowledge.