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AGE GROUPS
Under 25 95
25- 34 408
35- 44 331
45- 54 206
Over 55 67
DAY CARE OF CHILDREN
DAY NURSERIES
There are five Council day nurseries providing a total of 299 places for children under
five. Four of these are training nurseries, and twenty students were in training during the
year. Twelve students sat the N.N.E.B. examination in 1968 and ten were successful.
The demand for the day care of pre-school children continued to be high and there were
consistently long waiting lists. Children from the highest priority groups only were admitted
(i.e. where there was one parent, or where the health of the mother or of the child was
suffering, or a handicapped child needed to mix with normal children). At one of the nurseries,
a 2-year old child, both deaf and blind, was admitted to the baby room, with his mother
initially, to assess whether day nursery care would help to realize his full potential. After
a period of time, be began to sit up and eventually pull himself up to a standing position. He
became more confident and adventurous and began to explore his surroundings. He was encouraged
to wear his glasses and it was thought that he was able to see to a very small extent. This
child benefited considerably from being with other children. He has since been admitted to a
Sunshine Home for Blind Babies.
In October a voluntary organisation opened a private day nursery in the Highbury area
which was registered under the Nurseries and Child Minders' Regulation Act 1948, to accommodate
eventually 30 children aged 2-5 years. The Council accepted the offer of twenty places in this
nursery at an agreed daily rate. Children are admitted to these places from the Council's
priority waiting list on exactly the same conditions as admissions to Council day nurseries,
the first twelve being admitted by the end of the year.

CHILD MINDING
Unsatisfactory and illegal minding of children continued to give cause for concern.
Minders known to the department were followed up and advice on health and home safety
measures was given by health visitors and senior medical and nursing staff.
The health visitors and health education section co-operated in producing a pamphlet
which is handed to child minders - Hints on Minding Children'. Other agencies, i.e.
Department of Health and Social Services, expressed interest in this leaflet.
In 1965 local health authorities were asked by the Minister of Health to report to him
their arrangements for registration and supervision under the Nurseries and Child-Minders'
Regulation Act, 1948. In the light of these reports and following the Minister's subsequent
discussions with his professional advisers the 1948 Act was amended by Section 60 of the
Health Services and Public Health Act, 1968, which came into operation November 1968. This
strengthens local health authorities' powers with regard to registration.
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