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49.
control of a Voluntary Committee, and I, as Medical
Officer in charge, have the children under systematic
observation as to their health and progress.
The purpose of the Day Nursery is to care for the
children whose mothers must go out to work, and who
have no suitable relations or friends in whose care a
child could be left. Children are admitted from the age
of six weeks up to five years. A small daily payment is
required from the parents.
The Council makes a grant of £300 per annum
to the Day Nursery, in addition to providing the services
of a Medical Officer and the Health Visitors.
In the case of breast-fed infants, the mother is
encouraged to come at mid-day to nurse her baby, while
other feeds are carefully modified to suit the requirements
of each individual child.
Eridge House stands in a large garden, and an
open-air regime is the rule at the Nursery. The children
are fortunate in having a play-hut for wet weather.
A useful feature of the work of the Day Nursery is
that it is used as a training school in the management of
infants and young children by girls preparing to be
children's nurses; and certificates of such training of
at least a year's duration are granted. For these
purposes the Nursery is affiliated to the National Society
of Day Nurseries, 117, Piccadilly, W.l.
The attendances during 1930 show a large increase
over those for 1929, and were as follows:—
Individual children attended:—
Under three years of age 96
Over three years and under five 15