The school entry medical examination

We describe our comprehensive examination of 5 year old school entrants. The examination includes a parental interview, measurements of growth and visual acuity, and an audiometric sweep test all carried out by the school nurse and a paediatric examination and neurodevelopmental assessment carried out by the school doctor. The continuing need for such an examination, at least in urban areas, is discussed and illustrated by some data from the North Paddington Primary School Study. We emphasise the practical use of the neurodevelopmental assessment.