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Day Nurseries
The anticipated adaptation in 1969 of the Red Gables Mother and Baby Home to a day nursery will
help to alleviate some of the pressing needs of the Weston Park and Stroud Green areas. However,
the majority of short term emergency admissions are arranged with the full co-operation of the matrons
and staff.
It is encouraging to observe the great improvement of many of the children a few months after
admission; especially emotionally disturbed children from broken homes or when one or both parents
are suffering from mental illness. These children obviously require more concentrated attention from
the staff and some require the specialist help of the child guidance service.
There is a continuing demand for children to be cared for at a day nursery for a half or whole
day to enable the mother to keep appointments, such as attendance at hospital, family planning clinics
or court. During the year, a total of 246 children were accepted on the casual basis.

Private Day Nurseries and Child Minders
In November 1968 the Health Services and Public Health Act made amendments to the Nurseries
and Child Minders' Regulation Act 1948, so that it is now necessary for all child minders who receive
for reward even one child for more than two hours during the day to be registered with the Council.
A period of three months grace was allowed before the new regulations were to be enforced.
At the end of the year, plans were made for the appointment of a special child minder visitor to
deal with the expected large increase in registrations. Publicity was arranged to inform all concerned
in readiness for the appointed day in February 1969. It was decided that the Council's informal
daily guardian scheme was no longer required, and it was formally brought to an end.
Apart from these developments brought about by the new legislation, the numbers of registrations
increased steadily throughout the year. The playgroup movement spread in the Borough through
voluntary efforts, mainly by young women who were themselves mothers of young children.