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illness. Prompt notification by an Attendance Officer of a suspicious sore throat, or rash, has
frequently directed early attention to a case of Infectious Disease. They also undertake the
verification of returns of income made by parents when applying for various forms of assistance.
The Public Assistance Committee has very kindly given assistance in one or two cases
during the year, and the Invalid Children's Aid Association has, we know, dealt with some of our
school children. The Middlesex Edward VII. Memorial Fund from time to time provides a
seaside holiday or convalescence for a few necessitous children.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children has continued to render
valuable assistance in cases of parental neglect, several cases having been referred to the Society
during the year.
The following Societies render all possible assistance where required:—Hounslow, Heston
and Whitton Philanthropic Society; The Isleworth, Spring Grove and St. Margaret's Philanthropic
Society; The Shaftesbury Society and Ragged School Union; The United Services Fund, and the
British Legion.
13—BLIND, DEAF, DEFECTIVE AND EPILEPTIC CHILDREN.
Every effort is made to keep the list of these cases up-to-date. The Health Visitors are
able to report some cases before they reach school age, others are discovered at the Infant Welfare
Centres, and we never lose sight of them afterwards. Head Teachers inform us of cases, and we
rely on the School Attendance Officers to bring to our notice those defective children who do not
attend school.
There are no Special Schools in the district.
All mentally abnormal children, other than those who have been notified to the Local Mental
Deficiency Authority, are re-examined frequently and in any case not less than once in twelve
months.
Psychological cases, as I mentioned last year, keep dropping in and present their problems
for elucidation.
At the end of 1935 there were 36 children being maintained by the Education Committee
at institutions outside the district.
Six children were in Schools for the Blind, and two were in a School for the Partially
Sighted. In addition to these 8 children who are in Special Schools, we have 26 children attending
elementary schools in the area who suffer from a high degree of myopia. Ten of these have been
supplied with special desks. Each of the 26 children has special consideration at school, and the
Head Teachers and Class Teachers are supplied with instructions as to the best position for the
child in the class-room ; the type of work that can be allowed, etc. The teachers are asked to pass
the leaflet of instructions on as the child is promoted.
Four of the children have vision so defective that in accordance with the Board of
Education's definition in Table III., they must be classified as partially sighted. These four
children should be in a special school or class for such cases.
Ten children were in schools for the Deaf.
Two were in schools for the Mentally Defective.
Six were in schools for Epileptics.
Three were in Schools for Cripples, and one was at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital's
Country Branch, Stanmore.
Six were at Residential Open-Air Schools.
14.—FULL-TIME COURSES OF HIGHER EDUCATION FOR BLIND, DEAF,
DEFECTIVE AND EPILEPTIC STUDENTS.
Nothing has been done under this heading by the Authority during the year.
15—NURSERY SCHOOLS.
There are no nursery schools in the area.
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