View report page

2
The Director of Education reports that during the last year
the numbers of children receiving meals and milk have fluctuated
very widely and it is impossible to make an accurate generalisation
over the period„
(a) Meals
In July roughly 1610 free meals were served each day, and in
the course of the month 300 meals were served, mostly on payment,
in the special schools. The monthly average number of children
receiving free dinners daily during the period of normal working,
January to August, 1939 was 1768.
From September to Christinas the average number of children In
receipt of free meals was 250. With the re-opening of some schools
in the new year that figure rose sharply to about 400. The total
number of meals served during the year was 250,036, of which 248,516
were provided free. Plans were in readiness for the centralisation
of the meals service after the summer holiday, but the operation of
the scheme had to be postponed owing to the outbreak of war.
(b) Milk
r
In the Christmas holiday 1938/39, the experiment was started of
serving milk at the nine meals centres. This was continued in
later holidays and at Whitsun centres were also established in four
public parks. Through these facilities about 40% of the children
normally receiving free milk wore supplied while the schools were
closed, but only about 8% of the children who took milk oh payment
in term time took advantage, of this plan to receive .it during the
holidays. Under the emergency home service education scheme in
November and December, approximately 1,500 children received milk
daily on payment and 92 free of charge. Before the home service
scheme the 250 children having dinners were also, having milk. Under
the present scheme (March 1940) 5380 children are having milk on
payment and 467 free, The' monthly average number of childrern
receiving free milk during the period of normal working, January
to August, 1939, was 1445, and the total number of bottles of free milk
provided during the year was 274,101.
Part played by the Medical Staff in the Evacuation arrangement.
Prior to their departure for reception areas a number of children
were examined by the school medical officers and nurses in order to
determine their fitness or otherwise for evacuation.
Certified Special Schools.
Vale Road School for Physically Defectives,
The pupils and staff of this school were evacuated to the
Civil Service Camp, Gorton, Near Lowestoft. Later in the year the
senior boys 7were transferred to Golden Sands Camp and senior girls
and younger children were removed to Horsley's Green Camp, Stokenchurch.
Bucks.
School for the Deaf,
The personnel and pupils of the School for the Deaf were
evacuated to Kessingland Camp, Nr, Lowestoft, and subsequently
transferred to Gilestone Camp, Barry, South Wales.
Mental Defectives
A number of Tottenham children attending Oak Lodge Special
School accompanied a party from this institution to Hopton Camp,
near Lowestoi
All these d ay special schools were thus transformed into
residential institutions.