View report page

The Schools are, with several notable exceptions, fairly
modern, substantially built buildings adequately supplied with
water, and provided with sufficient surrounding air space, while
their general cleanliness is satisfactory. Cloak-room accommodation
is very limited in some Schools, and more efficient heating
is desirable, also several latrines need re-modelling.
With a view to checking the spread of epidemic disease it
has been the practice for many years past for the Medical Officer
of Health on receiving information of the occurrence of infectious
disease in the family of a scholar to send a red-coloured Notice
to the Head Teacher of the School attended (Day School and
Sunday School) recommending the exclusion of children coming
from the infected home. The Red Notice is subsequently followed
by a White Notice freeing the family from quarantine on the
completion of the necessary isolation and the official disinfection of
the premises. Each school is provided with a supply of disinfectants
for general or special use by the Education Authority.
It was not found necessary to order the closure of any School,
or part of a School, on account of infectious disease, or for any
other reason.
There are in addition two open-air schools :
(i) A residential open-air school for boys situated at Fyfield,
near Ongar, Essex.
(ii) A day open-air school for girls alt Crosby Road, Forest Gate.
It is worthy of note that in spite of an extensive epidemic of
scarlet fever and diphtheria not a single case occurred at either of
these open-air schools, though there have been 188 admissions
from the district during the year. In the early part of this year,
however (Feb., 1929), one case of Diphtheria has occurred at
Fyfield Open Air School, this being the first case since the School
was opened four years ago. The boy was promptly transferred
to the Isolation Hospital, and no further case arose.
51