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been a demand for this service. Arrangements have been made,
however, for an intending child-minder to give voluntary help in
one of the Council's day nurseries.
6) The formation of play groups should be encouraged.
The department is always prepared to give advice and help in the
formation of play groups and, in a number of cases, health visitors
are members of the voluntary committee running them. The Council
have also assisted by the provision of a site or accommodation.
7) More day nurseries should be established.
This is envisaged as a long-term provision in the health and welfare
development plan. In fact, during the year there was a loss of
three day nursery places consequent on the opening of the Special
Unit for sub-normal children at St. Quintin Day Nursery. However, the
importance of making the provision for these severely handicapped
children was such as to outweigh this reduction. At the end of the
year, day nursery accommodation was under review with the object of
making additional places available wherever possible.
8) More occasional creches should be provided, particularly in new
housing developments.
Creche sessions were reduced overall during the year by discontinuing
poorly attended sessions in an area where there was no likelihood
that demand would increase in the near future. Shortage of suitable
accommodation limited development in other areas where there is a
known demand, but steps were being taken before the end of the year
to remedy this situation. Long-term plans envisage the setting up
of creches in new housing developments.
9) Business firms should provide more hostels for working mothers and
day nursery accommodation for children.
There has been no indication that businesses within the borough are
interested in providing either hostel or day nursery accommodation,
and until their staffing needs become much more acute than they
appear to be at present, there is not likely to be any. Details
of the services provided in the borough for the day care of
children have, however, been furnished to the Women's Employment
Service of the Ministry of Labour.
10) More mothercraft training in schools and for young adults should
be provided.
There has been considerable progress on this recommendation, which
is dealt with in the section dealing with health education.
11) Family planning advice should be made more freely available.
This service, which is dealt with fully on page 44, has been extended
during the year.
Considerable progress has been made in development of the services
which give support to the satisfactory day care of children, but it is
clear that this field of effort will continue to give cause for concern
for the foreseeable future.
ADOPTION AND BOARDING OPT OF CHILDREN.
Adoption.
Persons proposing to adopt children are required to submit medical
certificates as to their health before a child is placed with them.