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155
ing more apparent in society since the rapid advance in health,
social and educational services have tended to level the inequalities of previous decades. It is now recognised that mal-adjustment,
delinquency, crime and violence have not decreased as the early
social planners had predicted. Indeed, it can be observed that
children and young people with such troubles are frequently,
although not invariably, the progeny of parents who have similar
problems.
Understandably, the quality of life is now of increasing importance and the vicious circle leading to so much personal unhappiness and social deprivation can, perhaps, be broken only by
introducing health education to future parents at a much earlier
stage, i.e., while they are still at school.
However, such education must have readily apparent relevance
to the current situation and the child, with the subject matter
adjusted carefully to the particular age group so that it will be
assimilated and put into practice at the right time.
Child-Minders and Private Day Nurseries
With the introduction of the Social Services Act of 1970, responsibility for the supervision of Nurseries and Child-minders
passed to the Directorate of Social Services. Nevertheless, it was
mutually agreed that this Directorate would not only continue its
control as hitherto until the new administration had managed to
solve its staffing difficulties but that this department would still
advise on the sanitary aspects of premises used as nurseries and
would also place information concerning childminders at the
disposal of the new Directorate.
The current year was the fourth in the implementation of the
Amendment of 1968 to the Nurseries and Child Minders Regulation Act, 1948.
Registration of premises and persons continued satisfactorily
and there was an increase in applications from prospective play
group leaders and child minders. More children in the London
Borough of Greenwich are now enjoying pre-school activities
than in any previous year. Some of the existing play groups
applied for and were granted an increase in registered numbers
to meet the demands of the area and 3 additional Play Groups
were registered and are being conducted most successfully.
Children of immigrant families are encouraged to attend these
Play Groups to enable their integration into the community to
be substantially achieved before they enter school.
With medical advice as necessary, supervision of Play Groups
was carried out by an Assistant Nursing Officer and Health