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The scheme for the voluntary registration of persons caring for
not more than two children has continued at about the same level as
the previous year.
Supervision is undertaken by the Council's officers and the
standard of private care has generally remained consistently satisfactory,.

Play Groups
The interest in and demand for this particular type of care for
the pre-school child continued to increase, particularly in the North
Kensington area. These groups satisfy a real need in the community
and some of the larger ones are registered by the Council as day
nurseries under the Nurseries and Child Minders Regulation Act, 1948.
Many, however, are open only for short daily periods and therefore are
not required to be registered; nevertheless, advice is frequently
given at the request of the organisers. There have been instances
of group organisers intending to increase their play group facilities
by extending the hours of opening, only to find that they would then
require to be registered as day nurseries but are, unfortunately,
unable to meet the Council's standards owing to structural or economic
difficulties affecting the premises.
ADOPTION AND BOARDING OUT 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.
These certificates are verified by the Council's medical officers
before consent is given.
Similarly. the medical records of the children to be adopted are
scrutinised by my department and the Children's Officer advised on the
child's suitability for adoption.
Should the reports reveal any medical defects, inheritable disease
or handicap in the child, further enquiries are made and, in the case
of inheritable disease in the natural parents, the prospective parents
are interviewed by their own practitioner.