[Report 1938] / School Medical Officer of Health, Leeds City.

  • Leeds City Council
Date:
1938
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1938] / School Medical Officer of Health, Leeds City. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    83/116 (page 81)
    NURSERY SCHOOLS AND CLASSES. REVIEW OF RECORDS FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS. Dr. G. F. Fringe, M.B., Ch.B., D.C.H. Flie figures which follow relate to the case histories of 1,1 children, who have been examined in the Nurserv Schools and Classes of Leeds during the period 1934-38 ; also to the records of the First Routine Examinations of 846 children during the period 1036-38. Tlic seven Nursery Units with their 480 scholars are situated in various parts of the city and are fairly representative of the school communitv as a whole. Some are in low lying areas scheduled for demolition, and others are situated on new housing estates at higher altitudes. In some classes the children of artisans and tradesmen form a considerable proportion, while in others the children of unskilled and unemployed labourers predominate. All children in the Hunslet and Woodhouse Nurserv Schools take their mid-day meal in school. In the Nursery Classes 74 per cent, of the children remain for dinner. Taking the group as a whole 21 per cent, have been granted free meals. Changes in the industrial situation, and the opening of Nursery Blocks attached to Infants’ Schools on new housing estates have resulted in a slight improvement in the average social conditions of the group during the five year period. For example, in 1935 the proportion of unskilled and unemployed fathers was 60 per cent., whereas in 1938 the proportion had fallen to 50 per cent. The effect of reho ising is shown by a rise in the proportion of children coming from homes provided with baths or hot water, from 31 per cent, in 1035 to 56 per cent, in 1938. During the whole period 30 per cent, of the mothers have been employed outside their homes. The need for medical supervision in school is shown bv the figures relating to attendance at Child Welfare Centres. Fairlv