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8.
the school is existing in quarters which are quite inadequate for
the purpose.
This matter has already been brought fully to the notice of the
Board of Education who are, therefore, aware of all the circumstances.
6. Vale Road Nursery School - This school continued to be housed,
during 1940, at Elveden Hall, West Suffolk. The health of the children
on the whole, was very good, but there was a small outbreak of whooping
cough in October, 1940. A School Nurse was sent to Elveden Hall to assist
in the care of the children. The school was regularly visited by the
School Medical and Dental Officers, and whenever required, by the visiting
Doctor, who is a local medical practitioner. In January 1940, immunisation
against diphtheria of all the children was completed, and a proportion
of the Staff were also treated.
The children appear to be benefiting from their stay in the country
and show evidence of the beneficial effects of the fresh air, good food
and ordered routine available in their present environment.
Infectious Diseases
Considerable loss of school attendance occurrs annually, especially
in the Infants Departments, owing to measles, whooping cough, chicken
pox and mumps, and in order to keep a check upon the incidence of these
conditions in school children, an arrangement exists by which the Head
Teachers are able to keep the Health Department informed of the weekly
absences due to infectious diseases. The information supplied by the
Head Teachers includes the names and addresses of the children, thus
enabling the nursing staff to visit the homes. When it is considered
advisable, or necessary, a general survey is made of all the scholars
attending particular classes with a view to discovering newly attacked
or missed cases.
Comparative figures of infectious disease occurring during the last
three years are not given owing to the pressure of work during 1940 as a
result of the War.
Diphtheria Immunisation.
During the year under review, immunisation clinics were continued
without interruption, although, owing to evacuation and, in the latter
part of the year, to the incidence of repeated daylight "alerts",attendances
were not comparable with those of a normal year, In the last two
months, however, attendances improved and the number of clinic sessions
was Increased from two to four per week. Early in 1941, a special appeal
to parents was made to have their children immunised. Arrangements were
made for a doctor to attend at each school to give the necessary .treatment
in a mobile immunisation clinic, which consisted of a Civil Defence
Mobile Unit fitted with a water supply heated by calor gas, and full
sterilisation equipment. The response has been excellent, and 2500 new
acceptances have so far been received. A further report on this matter
will be forthcoming In due course.
Bacteriological Examinations.
The results of examinations of throat and nose swabs for diphtheria
will be found in the Health section of the report.