View report page

to be referred for investigation or educational treatment; in the next group of 43, twenty-four
were so referred.
Some of the children noted above may require treatment at the Child Guidance Centre as
well as special educational treatment. In addition, a further 172 children were considered to exhibit
some degree of psychological instability. It is interesting to note that 118 of them were entrants
to school; 11 sufficiently so to be referred to the child psychiatrist for investigation and treatment.
107 of the children displayed behaviour or emotional problems which might be expected to be
managed or solved in the normal school situation but nevertheless needed to be kept under
observation. Among the children at intermediate examination, 48 were showing psychological
problems and 11 of these were referred for further investigation.
There appears to be an increasing incidence of psychological problems affecting school
children (2.9% in 1968; 5.8% in 1969; 4.9% in 1970; 6.3% in 1971) and this is also reflected in
the numbers being referred to child guidance clinics in the Borough and elsewhere. The occasional
need for a child presenting with severe acute mental disorder to be admitted to a children's
psychiatric unit or hospital may become very necessary and very urgent both for its security and
for its treatment. The position was referred to in last year's Annual Report and it is regretted that
the provision of hospital beds for such children locally is no better than it was a year ago.
School Health Service and Employment
The employment of school children is strictly defined by law and local education authorities
may apply restrictions by means of bye-laws. A child who is 13 years old and not yet of school
leaving age may be employed, in certain occupations, up to a maximum of 20 hours per week.
A certificate must be obtained showing that a medical assessment of the child has taken place
and that the medical officer is satisfied that the work the child has to perform will not interfere
with its health or education. The medical officer must consider whether the work is liable to induce
undue or excessive fatigue; is liable to induce some postural disability—excessive weight carrying,
working in a cramped attitude, etc.; is liable to take up too much of the child's leisure time. If the
child is on the Handicapped Pupils' Register stricter conditions must be applied to be certain
that the handicap is not exacerbated. All assessments are made at school health clinics. Upon the
issuing of the medical certificate, the child is given an Employment Card which must be produced
for inspection when required to do so by an authorised officer of the Authority or a Police Officer.
The Authority has a Careers Office which is set up to assist school leavers in obtaining
employment. At every leaver's examination a form is issued for the information of the Careers
Officer indicating conditions of employment which are not considered suitable for the child.
For most children no prohibition is necessary, but for a few, certain defects are present which
may limit a child's choice of occupation, e.g. colour vision defect where accurate discrimination
of colours is essential; poor eyesight in an occupation involving strain to the eyes; dusty or damp
atmosphere for children with chronic diseases of the chest, etc. The disease is not specified but the
certificate indicates to the Careers Officer that certain occupations are unsuitable.
There is a special liaison between the School Health Service and the Careers Office where
Handicapped Children are concerned. A Specialist Careers Officer, Mr. P. Holmes, has been
appointed by the Authority and the name of every school leaver on the Handicapped Pupils'
Register is reported to him. With parents' written permission more information concerning the
type of handicap is disclosed and the sort of occupation most suitable is discussed enabling the
Careers Officer to help place the majority of handicapped children in a congenial work setting.
THE EDUCATION (MILK) ACT, 1971 AND CIRCULAR 12/71
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE
This Act received the Royal Assent on 5th August, 1971, and its provisions were brought
into effect by the provision of Milk and Meals (amendment No. 2) Regulations, 1971, which were
made on 17th August, 1971.
Under these Regulations, Local Education Authorities were placed under a duty from
1st September, 1971 to provide free school milk only for the following classes of pupils at
maintained schools:
(a) Pupils in Special Schools.
140