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115
NUMBER OF CHILDREN ON ROLL
The number of pupils attending maintained primary and secondary
schools, including nursery and special schools, on reopening in January,
1966, was 26,069. The figures for each group of schools were as follows:—
Primary Schools and Nursery Classes 15,569
Secondary Schools 10,286
Special Schools 214
Total 26,069
MEDICAL INSPECTIONS
Under the provisions of the Education Act, it is the duty of a local
education authority to provide for the medical inspection, at appropriate
intervals, of pupils in attendance at any school maintained by them, and
the authority may require the parent of any pupil, in attendance at such
a school, to submit the pupil for medical inspection in accordance with
arrangements made by the authority. Although the Act thus provides a
legal obligation on the parent to submit the child for examination, the
parent is free, should he so desire, to refuse treatment.
Under the School Health Service and Handicapped Pupils' Regulations,
1953, a local education authority is free to experiment in the ages at
which periodic medical inspection shall be carried out, although a minimum
of three general medical inspections is prescribed.
During the past few years some thought has been given to the question
of introducing a type of medical inspection based on a "selective" technique
rather than following the more usual process of medically examining
ALL children.
"Selective" medical inspection implies visits by the school doctor on
at least two occasions in each term to each school; the intelligent use of
questionnaires to parents and others to enable all children to be brought
under review; discussion with head and class teachers on children causing
concern because of their health, lack of progress, truancy or absenteeism,
and consultations with health visitors on home conditions. It is considered
that this method allows concentration of attention and help on children
who need it without wasting time and energy on the many children whose
health and progress give rise to no anxiety. On the other hand, some are
not in favour of abandoning the medical examination of every child,
arguing that a child with a "masked" pathological condition could possibly
be missed by a "selective" technique. There appear to be points for
and against and some further investigation will be required. There is no
doubt that the success or failure of the "selective" method depends entirely
on good co-operation from all, on conscientious and high standards of
work and on everyone understanding fully what is being done. Previous
discussion with teaching staff on the method and what is being aimed at
is essential.