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Crosby Road Open-Air School.
The Authority maintains a Day Open-air School at Crosby
Road, Forest Gate, for 60 Girls and Junior Boys, 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 3,1 children were admitted, and 40 discharged.
I am indebted to Miss Davies (the Head Mistress) for the
following report on the School:—
Of the 40 children who left during the year 1936, 24 returned
to ordinary School, 15 left to take up suitable employment, and
one child removed from the district.
At the beginning of January the teaching staff was reduced
to two Assistant Teachers, and the accommodation of the School
to 60 pupils. These are of ages varying from 6+ to 14+, the
girls staying, if necessary, until they reach the age of fourteen,
the boys returning to the ordinary School at eleven years of age.
Children are admitted at any time throughout the year, and
their length of stay depends on their health and their reaction to
the conditions of the Open-air School.
In the Winter they are called upon to accustom themselves
to extremely severe weather conditions, but after a very short
while they become inured. Warm jerseys, blankets, and good
shoes are provided for use in School, and three well-balanced
meals a day, and a daily period of rest, help to restore these
children to normal health. Brightly coloured sun bathing suits
are worn during the Summer, so that a maximum amount of skin
surface is exposed to the beneficial rays of the sun. Every child
in the School takes advantage of the privilege of having spray
baths.
The Open-air School closes in Summer at 5.30 p.m. and in
Winter at 4.15 p.m. The actual time given to lessons approximates
to that of the ordinary school, and the curriculum is generally
the same. Much attention is given to personal and practical
hygiene, and gardening is the principal form of handwork. Importance
is placed in physical training and country dancing.
The girls of 11+ years now attend lessons in domestic science
on one half-day a week.
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