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113
Day Nurseries
Admissions
Difficulties encountered during 1966 due to the absence of a
Day Nursery in Greenwich, continued during the current year. The
allocated ten places in a Lewisham Nursery were continually oversubscribed
and these could only be allocated to unsupported
mothers and lone parents. Local Play Groups and Nursery Schools
assisted as much as possible by accepting an occasional medically
or socially handicapped child who urgently needed such care.
However, these establishments had their own staffing difficulties
and could not offer as many places as they would wish.
Council Places in Lewisham Day Nursery
In Waiting
Unsupported Mothers 6 3
Lone parent 4 4
Deaf children 1 —
The private Day Nursery/Play Group, which was opened in a
Church Hall during 1966 by a local Vicar with the co-operation of
the Management of a nearby factory, has flourished and arrangements
were made this year for vacancies to be offered to children
who were medically or socially handicapped and would benefit
from attendance at the establishment. The Council was responsible
for the payment of these places.
Under this scheme three children were admitted on social
grounds (two were still in attendance at 31st December)—one for
three hours daily and one full-time. One physically handicapped
child was also admitted for three hours daily. All these children
derived considerable benefit from the service and one was enabled
to remain at home with his father and school age siblings after the
death of the mother. In this case a child help cared for all the
children until the father returned from his work each night.
Occasional Creche Service
Each week a creche is held at three Welfare Centres at which
children under five years of age are cared for while their mothers
undertake various duties such as visits to hospital or attend
activities in the same Centre. One of these creches was newly
opened during the year. Two of them are consistently well attended
but, so far, the use of the other session has proved disappointing.
A nominal charge is made for the use of these facilities which
is abated when necessary. No charge is made to any mother who is
using the service to enable her to attend hospital.