London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Heston and Isleworth 1934

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]

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As usual in cases of Diphtheria, all home contacts have been swabbed, and in cases where
it was thought that the infection might be in the school, all school contacts have also been
examined.
The campaign in regard to immunisation against Diphtheria has been continued during the
year, and a full report of this work will appear in my Annual Report as Medical Officer of Health.
9.—OPEN-AIR EDUCATION.
(a). Playground Classes.
A number of playground classes are held during the summer months and an encouragement
to the holding of these classes has been that a number of classrooms in Schools have been provided
with additional doors opening directly on to the playground and all obsolete furniture in Infants'
Schools has been replaced by tables and chairs so that the children can easily take their chairs out
into the playground.
•
(b). Open-Air Classrooms in Elementary Schools.
The Schools planned during the last year and where building has already commenced or
about to commence have open air classrooms, i.e., the whole of one side is formed of French
windows in two cases and in the third case two sides can be completely thrown open with a two
feet wall below.
(c). School Journeys and Camps.
During the last year one School took two parties of girls for a week each in school term to
Ham Island near Windsor, and one school took a party of boys to a Camp at Lyme Regis during
the holidays.
10.—PHYSICAL TRAINING.
Every teacher taking the subject was supplied with a copy of the new Board of Education
Syllabus of Physical Training. The Committee organised three courses for:—
(a) Infants' teachers.
(b) Women teachers in Junior and Senior Schools.
(c) Men teachers.
which practically all the teachers taking the subject attended. The Senior Schools have been
supplied with a full complement of gymnastic apparatus except in one case where there is no
teacher suitably qualified to do this advanced work. More playing fields have been brought into
use during the year in particular Smallberry Green of 8 acres and the Marlborough School field
after levelling and sowing of grass. There has also commenced the laying out of two large grass
plots, one each for Alexandra Infants' and Alexandra Junior Schools. At Grove Road School
the area of tarpaving has been materially increased in order to enable Physical Training lessons to
be carried on in good conditions. During the coming year this is being done also at Heston Senior
and Berkeley Junior Schools. The number of Schools holding Schools athletic sports is increasing
and having every encouragement. The facilities for swimming have been increased and the
attendances at the Baths have increased from 14,000 in 1933 to 23,000 in 1934.
Proposals have been sent to the Board of Education to build a gymnasium at the Spring
Grove Central School to be used also for Evening Institute work. At this School the Committee
have appointed a woman teacher of Physical Training from Chelsea Physical Training College
and intend this summer to appoint a similarly qualified man teacher from the Carnegie Physical
Training College.
11.—PROVISION OF MEALS.
The scheme for the provision of dinners for school children commenced in May. The
dinners are served at 5 centres (four cafes and one school caretaker's home).
The centres and the meals have been inspected periodically by the medical staff to ensure
that thev are up to the necessary standard.
The following menus have been supplied to the caterers for their guidance:—
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