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To THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present the fifth annual report of the School Health
Service of the London Borough of Bromley.
A considerable part of the report again deals with arrangements for
special assistance to either physically or educationally handicapped children.
Included for the first time are reports on activities for the physically handicapped
children at the special school at Cheyne Hospital, West Wickham, and at
the Phoenix Centre, Farnborough Hospital; both are hospitals situated within the
administrative boundaries of the London Borough of Bromley.
Health of School Children
The health of Bromley school children is satisfactory with two exceptions.
The Principal School Dental Officer indicates a need for increased dental
health education to reduce the incidence of caries in infant school children.
The Health Education and Home Safety Officer reports a disappointing increase in
home accident figures.
On the credit side, despite a notified increase of 309 cases of infectious
illness, mainly due to measles, the beneficial effects of measles preventive
vaccinations can already be appreciated. In 1969, when a biennial epidemic
should have been experienced, the number of measles notified was limited to 411.
For previous epidemic years, the figures were 1,730 (1967) and 2,218 (1965).
There is a reduction of the waiting list for speech therapy from 133 (17
priority) to 64 (10 priority). This has been achieved in spite of a shortage of
staff by an increase in attendances at clinics and at home and school visits.
Audiology Service
A further six medical officers attended short courses at the Nuffield
Hearing and Speech Centre of the National Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital, on the
"Diagnosis and Treatment of the Deaf Child"; and it has now become possible to
include as part of each routine school medical examination, a sweep frequency
hearing test. Children who fail are re-examined by an audiometric threshold
hearing test.
The School Health Service and the Welfare Section have combined in providing
vocational guidance for hearing handicapped school children.
A three classroom unit for partially hearing children has been opened in
purpose built premises with facilities for speech training to enable the children
to attend the Nursery, Infant and Junior classes of an adjacent school. The
majority of the 22 children are severely deaf, and this Unit is participating in
a wider Research Study on the education of severely deaf children in ordinary
schools.
In addition, 13 partially deaf children attend out-borough units and 7
deaf children attend residential schools for the deaf. Peripatetic teachers of
the deaf assist 84 children at home, school and clinics. Thus a very comprehensive
service for the deaf school child has been developed in the first five years of
the Borough.
School Psychological Service
This service has now acquired new premises and full-time clerical assistance.
A fourth special class for learning or behaviour problems has been established
and increased liaison of the service with teachers of maladjusted children and
teachers of remedial reading has been developed in a tutorial unit.
The Child Guidance Service is developing closer links with the General
Medical Practitioner service and this is shown by the increased percentage
referrals to the Clinic over the past three years 11$ (1967)> 15% (1968) and 21$
(1969).
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