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SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE:
The following extracts from the Annual Report of the Divisional
School Medical Officer for the West Essex Division are of interest:-
"During 1968 detailed preparations were made for the beginning
of a new system of selective school medical examinations. Among
the changes to be made were the institution of an annual vision
test for children aged 7 and over and an audiometry examination
for every school entrant. There would be greater reliance on
questionnaires for older children in place of the routine
examinations which have formed the corner stone of school medical
work for so many years. It seemed likely that the school doctors'
time could be used to better advantage in such a scheme but that
there would be little alteration in the total time required to
do what was needed.
Special Schools:
It has long been recognised that a day special school for
educationally sub-normal children was needed in the Chigwell
area. During 1968 arrangements were made to open a day school
in premises used as an ordinary junior school. The new school
was to be named St. Luke's and it was to be opened in January 1969
with between 30 and 40 pupils. At the time of writing the number
of pupils has increased to 47 whose ages range from 7 to 13. Most
of the pupils are 9 or 10 years of age. The large number of
children who need special educational treatment solely because
they are slow learners is a serious problem in this Division and
it is hoped that St. Luke's will help solve many of the difficulties
which have existed in the past.
School Dental Service:
In previous Annual Reports mention has been made of the regular
inspection and treatment which has been given to the residential
special schools each year. It is now pleasing to be able to report
a very positive improvement in the dental health of the children at
these schools as evidenced by figures which are available for
pupils at High View Residential School. In 1965 at the school
dental inspection at this school, 72% of the pupils needed treatment.
This high figure dropped in the 2 succeeding years, and at the latest
inspection in December 1968 only 43% of the pupils needed treatment.
Because of the resignation of the dental health teacher there
has been very little progress with the dental health education
programme in the Chigwell Urban District. However, a further
dental health teacher was appointed at the end of the year to take
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