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be placed on the waiting list. This is no doubt due in part to the
population structure of the borough which includes a relatively high
population of unsupported mothers and immigrant families who are
accustomed to expect that their children will be cared for by others,
while the mother goes out to work.
The staffing position in the nurseries has improved and there has
been a welcome tendency for nursery nurses to remain in post somewhat
longer. This is certainly attributable in part to the decision of the
Council to allow all nursery nursing staff to have meals on duty free
of charge which became effective in January, 1966. Apart from the
practical help which this has given to lowly paid members of their
profession, this has operated as recognition of the difficulties that
they are experiencing in meeting the cost of living in London and has
effected a marked improvement in morale.
The general inadequacy of the salary scales for nursery nurses and
nursery assistants was the subject of representations by the Council to
the management side of the Whitley Nurses and Midwives Council who
undertook to bear the Council's views in mind.

Blind and Partially Sighted Children in day nurseries.
The arrangements for deaf children and children with defective
hearing to attend day nurseries to assist them to adapt to a normal
environment with other children was extended to blind and partially
sighted children. So far, three such children have been admitted.
This facility is free of charge (except for payment for a mid-day meal)
and is limited in each case to a period not exceeding an aggregate of
fifteen hours weekly.
Occasional creches.
Occasional creches are provided for the children of mothers who
are not at work, but who wish to have their children cared for for
a short period (2-3 hours) during the day while they attend hospital
or clinic or do their shopping. No meals are provided at a creche.
Occasional creches were held at three of the Council's centres and
at the Violet Melchett Infant Welfare Centre. At the beginning of
1966, twenty-one sessions were held weekly, but it was found that, at
one centre, attendance on certain days was poor and three sessions were
discontinued.