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39
[1938
The Day Nursery, like all new institutions, has had its minor teething troubles,
and certain changes were made in the light of experience gained. The part-time
Kindergarten Teacher, Miss Holland, left in February to take up a whole-time post,
and the Committee eventually decided to appoint a whole-time Resident Staff Nurse,
as it was felt that the advantages of a senior member of the staff who could take
charge of any section of the children outweighed the advantages of a kindergarten
teacher not dealing with children under two years of age.
It was also found desirable to appoint a whole-time non-resident caretaker who
would be in charge of the boiler-house and perform heavy domestic and handyman's
duties.
Three Nursery Probationers took their Elementary examination and all were
successful.
A Senior Probationer left on the 31st March, and was replaced by a Junior
Probationer.
Summary of Nursery Routine.
The children are admitted from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., and after careful inspection to
eliminate the possibility of infectious illness are passed through the bathroom and
then changed into nursery clothing. They are served with a light meal at 9 a.m., and
there is free and organised play until 11.30 a.m. Play is in the open-air whenever
weather permits and during the winter 50 per cent. to 60 per cent. of the children
were found to require a course of artificial sunlight treatment. From 11.30 a.m. to
12 noon dinner is served, and the children are rested after this until 2.15 p.m., all the
toddlers taking their rest or sleep on stretchers (again in the open-air on all possible
occasions). Play follows until tea at 4 p.m., and mothers take their children away at
any time between 4.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m.
The following is the average daily menu for a toddler :—
9 a.m. Milk and fruit.
12 noon. Meat (liver, or beef, or lamb)
or
Fish
or
Grated cheese and lightly boiled eggs
with
Creamed potatoes, and Green (and other) vegetables
in season.
Baked or steamed pudding with dried or fresh
fruit, according to season.
Egg custard, or junket, or milk and fruit jellies.
3.30 p.m. Milk, and Savoury sandwich
to (i.e., egg, cheese, salad, marmite, etc.)
4 p.m. and
Sweet to follow—Honey, jam or treacle
or
Fruit bread
or
Sponge cake.