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Day Nurseries
There are seven day nurseries in the Borough which provided a total of 373 places for
children. Latimer Day Nursery moved from its old premises in the Mission Hall in Blechynden
Street to new premises in Latimer Road where it was possible to offer more places for children.
The work of the special unit for mentally handicapped children attached to one of the day
nurseries continued.
Day nursery accommodation was improved by the completion of a new building for Latimer
Day Nursery, and by structural alterations at Grove House Day Nursery. As a result of the work
carried out at the latter establishment, the number of places in the special unit for severely subnormal
children was increased from 6 to 9. Places were made available for young children so that
assistance might be given in dealing with social problems arising from medical treatment by
general practitioners and hospitals.
Nursery and Child-Minders Regulation Act, 1948
At 31 December, 1966, there were 21 child-minders registered under the above Act to
care for a total of 104 children, excluding their own. There were also 5 premises registered
under the Act for the reception of 82 children.
Borough Child Minders' Scheme
The Borough's Scheme provides for the approval of minders giving daily care in their
own homes to not more than two children from different households. Minders so approved may
claim a fee of 6s.0d. a week. At 31 December, 1966, 45 minders were receiving this fee; they
were then minding 65 children.
Creches
On 2 July a creche was provided at Greyhound Road Maternity and Child Welfare Centre
in addition to the two existing creches at Glenthorne Road and at St. Dunstan's School Treatment
Centre. Initially it was open for one session a week, but, as the demand increased, the number
of weekly sessions also increased to three from 24 October 1966. This service is a way in which
the local authority co-operates with hospitals by allowing free attendance at a creche while a
mother keeps a hospital appointment.
Play-groups.
Mothers of young children showed considerable interest in the setting-up of playgroups
for children from 3-5 years of age, with a view to providing supervised and constructive corporate
activities for them. There were three such groups by the end of the year. The persons responsible
for the groups were visited and advised about the conduct of the groups, and the health visitors
were in frequent touch with them.
Observation and Handicap Register
Babies are considered to be at risk of developing handicaps if they are adversely affected
during pregnancy, labour or the lying-in period (puerperium), and the names of such children are
entered in the observation register. This register is scrutinised at regular intervals by a senior
medical officer so that the child's progress and development may be kept under review. Should a
handicap become evident the child's name is transferred to the handicap register.
The purpose of the observation and handicap register is to ensure that a handicapped
child receives appropriate care, treatment, training and education.
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