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Swimming.
A course for teachers on The Teaching of Swimming to
Beginners was held at the South-West Essex Technical College
Bath at the beginning of the Summer Term and was well attended.
During 1958 changes became necessary in the hours during
which the swimming bath at the South-West Essex Technical
College was available for schools. From the Autumn Term it was
arranged that whole school forms should receive swimming instruction
and by careful adjustments of the time-tables for the use
of the College Bath the High Street Bath and Leyton High Road
Bath it was possible to provide a swimming period for almost all
Junior school children in their fourth year and Secondary school
children in their first year. The experiment proved successful and
it is intended to continue the arrangements although the Leyton
High Road Bath will not be available for Walthamstow Schools
during the Summer Term 1959. It will be necessary to make use
of the Whipps Cross Open-Air Pool.
Dancing.
Primary Schools continued to show great interest in dancing.
In some secondary schools the position was not so satisfactory ;
time-table problems often prevented the subject from receiving the
attention it should have had. Courses for teachers have been held
in English and Scottish Country Dancing.
14. PROVISION OF MEALS
The following extracts are taken from the Annual Report of
the Borough Education Officer to the Committee for Education:—
School Meals.
The number of children having dinners daily averaged about
8.500 during the year and the total number of dinners provided was
1,626,973. This is an increase of 600 daily over the previous year.
The number of kitchens in use remains at fifteen. The Committee
continue to provide dinners during school holidays at selected
centres for reduced numbers. New dining furniture has been
installed in several schools, adding greatly to the amenities, and the
family service method previously introduced has been extended to
four more schools. The Committee invited tenders and accepted
contracts for groceries, milk, greengroceries and meat during the
year. Minor improvements continued to be made in the schools to
improve service and washing-up facilities.
Note by School Medical Officer: Some 40% of children on
the school roll took meals and over 15,000, or some 75% had
school milk.