View report page

24
Nursery Classes.
Nursery Classes continue to fill an important part of the
social life of the community. They relieve mothers of much of the
drudgery of domestic life, and at the same time by allowing the
mother to work, give opportunities of economic independence. By
this nursery provision children are accommodated in surroundings
where no effort has been spared, within the limits of war-time
supplies, to secure a happy and healthy atmosphere. The children
are under regular inspection by the school nurse, who visits daily,
and they are provided with milk twice a day and a substantial
midday meal is provided on the premises. The Committee's
Nursery School and two classes have continued as a temporary
measure as war-time Day Nurseries under the administration of
the local Welfare Authority.
Ophthalmic Clinic.
Refraction work and ophthalmic treatment have for many
years been an established service in this area, from time to time
extending the scope as circumstances altered. Any child from
birth up to the age of 19 years can now be treated at the clinics.
Where treatment other than the provision of spectacles is indicated,
this is arranged either at hospital, where operative treatment is
necessary, or at the clinic when treatment by drugs or medicaments
can be given. Treatment for squint can by this means be
obtained at a very early age by close co-operation with the Infant
Welfare and Toddler Clinics. Treatment is continuous after leaving
school by continuation of supervision up to the age of 19.
The total number of refraction cases, including cases suffering
from squint, was 562. Total number of cases provided with
glasses, 517.
Dental Clinic.
Mr. V. Sainty, L.D.S., Senior Dental Officer, reports as follows:—
"The results as shown in Table IV, pages 30 and 32, are
very satisfactory. In spite of flying bomb attacks, which caused
fresh evacuation of children and also interfered with the
routine appointments made at the dental clinics, there were
300 more attendances for treatment than in the previous year;
namely, in 1943, 7,580; 1944, 7,900."