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In view of the fact that the Area was formed on the 1st April
the statistics in this report cover only the nine month period
from thst date to the end of the year. They cannot therefore
reasonably be subjected to any valid comparison with the previous
figures. It is pleasing to report however that the general health
of school children in the area remains very satisfactory. Gross
physical defects are few and far between and in the vast majority
of cases are under treatment before the child starts school. School
medical examinations reveal an increasing number of children with
visual defects and this group forms the largest single category.
Although as has been pointed out there are no previous figures for
valid comparison there is definitely an increase in importance of
psychological factors and defects of the special senses in the field
of school health, and these may play an important part in limiting a
child's educational progress without necessarily being very obvious.
Handicapped Pupils:
The assessment of handicapped pupils in accordance with
Section 34 of the Education Act 1944, to ensure that they receive
special educational treatment best suited to their physical and
mental condition remains one of the most important duties of the
school medical officer. 76 childrert were newly ascertained as
requiring this treatment in 1965, 243 pupils* in the Division
were receiving special educational treatment at the end of the
year. Approximately half of these were educationally sub normal
pupils.
Health Education:
Special health problems now needing particular attention in
schools are education about the relationship of the sexes, in all
its human and social implications, including future responsibilities
as parents, and the ill effects of smoking. On the other hand it
is stressed that the content of a school's health education syllabus
should be broadly based, aimed at giving the child knowledge which
would equip him to face the social and health problems he will meet
in later years.
Child Guidance Service;
Satellite Child Guidance Clinics are to be opened in Loughton
and Saffron Walden and arrangements for the Loughton Clinic were
well advanced at the end of the year.
/School
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