View report page

Crosby Road Open-Air School.
The Authority maintains a Day Open-air School at Crosby
Road, Forest Gate, for 90 children, from the age of 7 years
upwards. The cases are recommended by the School Medical
Staff from their findings at Routine and Special examinations.
Long periods of attendance at the Day Open-air School are
usually required, as in many instances home influences very often
detract from the benefit that would otherwise accrue. The
children have the benefit of spray baths, breathing exercises and
handkerchief and tooth brush drill; also plenty of rest as well as
lessons in an open-air environment. Good meals with morning
milk are also provided.
Periodical medical examinations are carried out at the school
by the Chief Assistant School Medical Officer.
During the year 16 boys and 26 girls were admitted, and
20 boys and 34 girls discharged.
I am indebted to Miss Davies (the Head Mistress) for the
following report on the School:—
Several improvements have been made during the year. The
two shelters are now heated during the coldest days of winter, and
the washing basins with the cold water taps have been enclosed.
Additional lavatories have been supplied for the use of the girls.
Fifty-four children have left during the year, chiefly to return
to ordinary school. Their physical improvement is apparent in
their steady increase in weight, in their posture, and general bearing.
With renewed health we see a marked gain in self-confidence
and mental poise, together with the growth of the desire to learn,
so that, if as is often the case, when they return to ordinary school,
they are still backward in the ordinary school subjects (it must
be remembered that most of the children admitted are several
years retarded) their readiness to adjust themselves, and their
increased powers of resistance to fatigue, help to bring them to the
normal level.
This is our aim, and we obtain it by a carefully adjusted curriculum,
by balanced periods of rest and exercise, and by judicious
and regular meals.
The garden plays a large part in the school life of a CrosbyRoad
Open-Air School child. Her own individual garden provides
a means of self-expression and self-discipline, developing
that confidence we seek to encourage. The surrounding garden
provides a pleasant setting for school activities, and the new lawn
which was laid down last Spring is invaluable during the warmer
months for an open-air class, and for country dancing and games.
Additional time has been given to Physical Training, and the
benefit is already to be seen in the quickened response and increased
alertness of the children.
175