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Voluntary Child-Minders Scheme
Persons who daily mind less than three children for reward need not register
under the Nurseries and Child-Minders Regulation Act, 1948, but can be registered
under the Council's voluntary scheme and receive a registration fee of 6s. per week
if they conform to Council requirements and accept supervision by the health visitor.
Charges are mutually agreed between parent and child-minder.
At 31st December 1967, 76 minders were receiving fees and minding a total of
99 children.
Occasional Creches
Creches are provided at four of the Council's welfare centres and at one church
hall for the minding of young children while the mother takes part in welfare centre
activities, visits hospital, attends to shopping or other domestic duties. The charge is
1s. 9d. per session abatable in necessitous cases, although no charge is made when the
parent attends hospital or a centre activity.
Number of sessions during 1967 917
Total attendances during 1967 18,246
Nurseries and Child-Minders Regulation Act, 1948
Under the above Act, the Council has a duty to keep registers-—
(i) of premises in their area, other than premises wholly or mainly used as
private dwellings, where children are received to be looked after for the
day or a substantial part thereof or for any longer period not exceeding
six days;
(ii) of persons in their area who for reward receive into their homes children
under the age of five to be looked after as aforesaid.
Section 4(2) of the Act restricts registration under Section l(l)(b) to persons
who receive more than two children into their home of whom they are not a relative,
and the children come from more than one household.
Day Nurseries
Persons proposing to open a day nursery are visited by a senior medical officer
and a senior nursing officer who inspect the premises concerned and outline the
requirements the Council would be likely to impose if registration were recommended.
Applicants are also advised on staffing and other matters and are notified of the need
to obtain planning permission and instructions on fire precautions.
At the end of the year, 12 statutorily registered day nurseries were providing
places for 306 children.
Child-Minders
As for day nurseries above, visits of inspection are carried out by a senior
medical officer and a senior nursing officer to persons who are required to register
as child-minders under the Act. These visits are essential not only for inspection
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