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Average daily attendance during the year 268
Average rate of occupation 90%
Waiting list at the end of the year Priority 154
Others 318
Total 472
DAY NURSERIES - PRIVATE
There are four full-time day nurseries in the Borough registered under the Nurseries and Child-Minders
Regulation Act, providing places for 73 children. One is attached to a hostel and admits only the children of
residents; one is run by the Islington Society for Mentally Handicapped Children; one has allocated 20 of its
30 places to the Council, and children are admitted from the Council's priority waiting list for day nurseries;
the fourth nursery is run by the Spanish Sisters of Charity who give priority to children from the Spanish
community.
NURSERIES AND CHILD-MINDERS-NEW LEGISLATION
In November 1968 Section 60 of the Health Services and Public Health Act, 1968, came into force; it
drastically amends the Nurseries and Child-Minders Regulation Act, 1948, and strengthens the powers of the
local health authority. Under the 1948 Act, registration was necessary only for those premises where children
were received for the day or a substantial part thereof. Now premises used for this purpose for two hours or
more a day must be registered. Also, persons did not need to be registered unless minding more than two
children from more than one household for the day of a substantial part thereof. Now a person minding for
reward one child under five years of age to whom she is not related, for two hours or more in a day must be
registered. Thus, all part-time nurseries, including playgroups, and all persons minding for reward a child
under five years of age, to whom they are not related must apply for registration. Requirements may now
be imposed on child-minders in line with the requirements imposed on private nurseries under the 1948
Act; a person authorised by the Council has the right of entry, at reasonable hours, to the homes of registered
child-minders; the maximum penalties have been increased; all applicants for registration must sign a
declaration stating if, for any reason, she would be disqualified under Section 6 of the Children's Act, 1958,
from taking foster children or if an Order had been made against her under Section 43 of the Adoption Act,
1958.
The volume of work arising from the amendments to the 1948 Act greatly increased the work of the
department and an Assistant Nursing Officer was appointed with specific responsibility for supervising childminders
and playgroups.
CHILD MINDERS
Most applications for registration as child-minders were received from women referred by health
visitors, but a number contacted the department as a result of the wide publicity given to the amended Act.
All enquiries were investigated and during the year the department was in touch with some 800 women,
many of whom received at least one visit.
All applicants for registration as child-minders living in multi-occupied houses were visited by the
Council's Fire Inspectors who advised on fire precautions and means of escape in case of fire. In a considerable
number of cases registration was deferred until the premises were made safe. The number of children
daily-minded above the first-floor of a house was severely restricted as a safety precaution, and applicants
who had two children of their own under five years were not allowed registration in these circumstances.
Many prospective daily minders withdrew their applications because they were unwilling to provide such
things as fixed fire guards to heating appliances.
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