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

View report page

West Ham 1927

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]

This page requires JavaScript

The permanent "out of school" cases are provided with a
special card, and are visited periodically by a Nurse detailed for the
purpose. The School Medical Officer thus keeps in touch with
these cases, and is thereby notified of any change justifying their
re-examination.
Besides the above method of ascertainment an annual census
of exceptional children is made at the end of each year throughout
the schools. The method consists in circularising all Heads of
School Departments to submit names of children, classified according
to defects who, in their opinion, are unfit for the ordinary
education of the Elementary Schools. These children are then
examined by the School Medical staff, so that the decision may
eventually rest on medical opinion. Such children as the Doctors
decide are exceptional, figure in Table III. of the Report.
(b) A Special Nurse is employed in following up at the
homes all mentally defective children not in school.
In brief, all "out of school" cases, including both physical and
mental defectives, which arise as a result of the four statutory
examinations for admission to Special Schools, are followed up
to see what treatment, if any, is being provided, or otherwise to
urge the parent to obtain any attention necessary.
After-care Committees have been formed in the North and
South of the Borough to interest themselves in the future welfare
of children recently discharged from the Special Schools, including
the two Deaf Centres at Water Lane and Frederick Road.
The following reports have been received regarding children
who have left during the past year:—
KNOX ROAD SPECIAL SCHOOL.
Physically Defective.
Boys—
One attending Pitman's College.
One attending Clark's College.
One in Pianoforte business with his father.
One learning Baking.
One at Continuation School.
One in office at Queen Mary's Hospital.
One sent to Heritage Craft School, Chailey.
One unemployed.
One left district.
Girls—
One at a Dyers.
One Shop Assistant.
One Milliner.
One packing at Wholesale Co-operative Society.
One works at home (paper bags).
One trimming Dresses with relative.
One at local laundry.
162