View report page

The nursery students who completed the two-year course of training were successful
in the Nursery Nurse Examination Board examination. At the end of the year
15 students were receiving practical training in the nurseries and theory in the
Southwark or Brixton colleges of technology.
Private Day Nurseries, Childminders and Pre-School Playgroups
Following the passing of the Health Services and Public Health Act, 1968, the
work of inspection, registration and supervision of all groups was intensified. An
assistant nursing officer, specially appointed for this aspect of the work, accompanied
by a medical officer, visited all premises for which applications for registration had
been made. Health visitors visited and reported on all established groups. Follow-up
visits are essentail to maintain satisfactory standards and check on changes in staff
and attendances. An organiser of playgroups and childminders was appointed
during the year. The organiser has given valuable advice to new and established
groups, including the purchase of equipment and the provision of suitable activities
for the children. She also forms the link between the Council and voluntary organisations.
The organiser also visits childminders providing full day care to ensure that
satisfactory care is given and to observe and offer help over a longer period.
A scheme for providing financial assistance to playgroups accepting a quota of
priority class children was approved, and under this scheme grants totalling £895
were paid to 11 groups. In cases of financial difficulty the Council met the fees of
playgroups or childminders for the reception of priority class children. Eight private
nurseries or playgroups were registered by the Council under the Nurseries and
Child Minders Regulations Act, 1948, during the year. At the end of the year there
were 47 registered nurseries or groups authorised to provide whole or part day
care for up to 1,188 children.
The coming into force of the penal clause of Section 60 of the Health Services
and Public Health Act, 1968, involved a heavy volume of work early in the year
in the registration of women who had been minding one or two children, for which
registration was not previously necessary. Altogether, during the year, 337 persons
were registered for the minding of up to 563 children.
FAMILY PLANNING
The arrangement whereby the Family Planning Association acts as agent for the
Council in providing a family planning service from Health Department premises
on a deficiency grant basis continued and during the year additional weekly sessions
were introduced at the Heathside and Speedwell health centres, the latter being
special youth advisory service sessions. At the end of the year the following sessions
were being held:—
Central Lewisham 3
Amersham Road 2
Speedwell 2
Louise House 5
Flower House 3
Downham 2
Heathside 1
Spalding House 2
A scheme was introduced whereby general practitioners providing and fitting
intra-uterine devices free to women in necessitous circumstances could claim a fee
from the Council.
During the year the base for the Council's domiciliary service was transferred
from the Amersham Road to the Speedwell Health Centre. The following table
gives details of the service provided during the year:—
31