View report page

HYGIENE OP SCHOOL PREMISES
The Standards for School Premises Regulations, 1954, lay down scales of provisions
for cloakrooms, washbasins, water closets and urinal stalls and, in the case of county and
voluntary secondary schools, changing rooms and showers. In all county and voluntary schools
suitable accommodation should be available for dining and every school should have sufficient
and suitable kitchen accommodation.
Sufficient and suitable cloakroom, washing and sanitary accommodation other than that
provided for the pupils should also be provided in every school for the use of the teaching
staff and the staff employed in the School Meals Service.
Medical officers when visiting schools for medical inspection do not confine themselves
to seeing the children but interest themselves in general hygienic arrangements and the
condition of the sanitary accommodation in so far as these may affect the health of the pupils
and staff. For a number of years now the medical officers have conducted a review of the
hygiene of each school at the completion of their periodic medical inspection. Although the
detailed reports for each school are kept in the central office any observations made by the
medical officer are sent to the Chief Education Officer whenever necessary so that he can
consider how far and at what stage it may be practicable to implement any recommendations.
Minor matters may be remedied as they arise but certain improvements can only be implemented
by inclusion in long-term plans. Liaison between the Education Department and the Borough
Engineer enables the medical officers1 recommendations to be Interpreted into practical
improvements to the school buildings or to the various services accommodated in them. During
the year 6l reports were made and dealt with in this way. In January last year the Primary
Education Sub-Committee recommended agreement in principle to the closing of spray baths in
all schools with the exception of Elizabeth Fry and Gurney Special Schools. It was gratifying
to believe that the cleanliness of the children had Improved sufficiently to make this
possible.
Food Hygiene.
The Food Hygiene Regulations, 1955, came into operation on 1st January, 1956, and
modified and extended the hygiene requirements contained in the Food and Drugs Amendment
Act, 1954. They apply to the supply of food in the course of a business, which is now
defined so as to include schools as well as canteens, clubs, and other institutions, and
therefore they are of much interest to the local education authority. As a measure for the
maintenance of good standards of food hygiene they will be welcomed. Among the Regulations,
those which are of special importance from the school meals service point of view are those
relating to: 1. the personal cleanliness of the kitchen staff; 2. sanitary conveniences;
3. provision of water supply; 4. provision of wash hand basins with hot water; 5. facilities
for washing food and equipment; and 6. the temperature at which certain foods, which are
particularly liable to transmit disease, are kept in food premises.
97