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WEST HAM SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF
The capacity of this school, which also takes children from
East Ham and contiguous
areas of Essex is 70, and the maximum number of children on the roll during the year was 72,
including 47 extra-district cases. It is anticipated that the accommodation will be increased
under the Development Plan. Of the 72 children in attendance during the year,
22 West Ham cases and 37 extra-district cases were regarded as deaf, and 6 West Ham cases
and 10 extra-district cases as partially deaf and suited for instruction with hearing aids.
The admissions to and discharges from the school are set out below:-
Admissions
West Ham Extra-district
Totally Deaf 1 1 I1ford
2 Essex
Partially Deaf Nil 1 East Ham
2 Essex
1 Barking
Leavers
Totally Deaf 2 1 L.C.C.
Partially Deaf Nil Nil
It is of the utmost importance that children who are deaf should commence
education at the special school at as early an age as possible.
FYFIELD RESIDENTIAL OPEN-AIR SCHOOL
During the year 88 West Ham boys and 106 West Ham girls were admitted, and 105 West
Ham boys and 89 West Ham girls were discharged. Of extra-district children, 32 boys and
23 girls were admitted, and 27 boys and 27 girls were discharged. The West Ham children
are re-inspected a few months after they leave Fyfield to ascertain if their improvement
has been maintained. Of the 100 who attended for examination, 91 showed continued improvement,
but 9 children had not maintained their condition and were given the opportunity of
having a further stay at the school.
During the year the Chief Assistant School Medical Officer made monthly visits
during February and March. Thereafter, owing to a change in the method of admission
whereby the children were admitted each term and a few at mid-term instead of monthly as
previously, visits were made in the months of May, July, September and November. Altogether
six visits for re-inspection were made during the year. This accounts for the reduction
from 1,464 to 855 in the number of examinations carried out at the school during 1950.
NUJRSERY SCHOOLS AND CLASSES. The Authority has had two nursery schools, the
Rebecca Cheetham Nursery School in the north of the Borough and the Edith Kerrison Nursery
School in the south for many years. In October 1949, the Osborne Road Day Nursery was
transferred to the Education Committee and became a Nursery School under supervision by
the School Health Service; and in September of this year, Station Street Day Nursery was
likewise transferred to the School Service. The children at nursery schools are medically
examined quarterly. As from October 1950, the classification of the medical examination
was changed as a result of discussions at the Ministry of Education, The child's first
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