View report page

48
Miss M. Reading later visited the various centres and commented
on the fact that, although the women cooks were untrained,
they were doing their best. Suggestions were made with regard
to the importance of starch in a crisp form, not over-cooking vegetables
and the avoidance of excessive use of condiments. The existing
menus were criticised as being unsuitable with regard to the development
and preservation of teeth.
Alternative three-weekly menus were submitted by Miss
Reading, who allocated approximately one half-day per week to
the supervision of feeding centres.
Some difficulty has been met with in securing that the children
wash their hands adequately before taking meals.
(2) Milk Meals.— Milk was supplied on medical grounds to
4,168 children on the recommendation of the medical staff after
the examination of children either at school or clinics, the total
number of m'eals being 1,079,039. The number of children supplied
during the preceding year was 3,257, and the number of meals
741,121.
Children presenting evidence of subnormal nutrition are given
milk meals provisionally, on the recommendation of the Head
Teachers, pending medical examination.
Children receiving "official" milk are seen at the medical
inspections and re-inspections each year, the findings are recorded
on a special card, and a decision made as to the extension of the
milk meals.
(3) Milk in Schools Scheme.— The arrangements detailed in
former reports were continued in 1937, all the milk supplied being
pasteurised milk sold under licence.
A table is published below summarising the reports of Head
Teachers as to milk consumed in schools in March and October,
1936, and as required by the Board of Education.
The summary shows the percentage at each school receiving
milk on the two dates, including absentees who usually receive
milk:—