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I suggest that the conclusions to be drawn from an examination of these
statistics and the report of the Clinic Medical Officer are that the establishment
of toddlers' clinics was justified, and that these clinics should form a permanent
feature of the child welfare service at every Municipal Infant Welfare Centre in
the Borough.
If the Committee share this view, the question as to the sessions and
staffing requirements should be reviewed to enable the necessary arrangements
to be made for their continuance without a break from the expiry date of the
extended experimental period in February next.
Experience has proved that a weekly session for toddlers is required at the
Peckham, Dulwich and Mayward House Centres, but the number of children
between the ages of one year and the time they attend school in the area of the
Camberwell Municipal Centre does not appear to necessitate a session at this
Centre more frequently than once a fortnight. When the Centre at Sumner Road
is opened I am of opinion that one Session a fortnight in this area will be sufficient
as a beginning.
I am also of the opinion that the present practice of detailing a Health
Visitor to follow up the letter of invitation for the purpose of influencing parents
to make use of the Council's Toddlers' Clinic should be continued, except that I
do not consider there is any need for such visits in cases where children are regularly
attending an infant welfare centre.
In dealing with this question of the care of children under school age, I
desire to remind your Committee that toddlers' clinics are not meant to replace