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clearer definitions of fitness of persons and premises and widens the power of local
authorities to impose requirements and at the same time increases the penalties for failure
to register.
A considerable volume of work has fallen on visiting officers and administrative
staff as a result of the extension of registration to persons receiving less than three
children.
This work has further increased because playgroups, which fall within the definition
of premises to be registered, have increased in number so that at the end of the year 36
were open within the Borough.
Registration of Premises
Persons proposing to open a day nursery or playgroup 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-equipment and are notified of
the need to obtain planning permission and instructions on fire precautions.
At the end of the year 27 statutorily registered private nurseries and playgroups
were providing places for 619 children.
Child Minders
As for premises 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 childminders.
These visits are essential not only for inspection purposes but to advise and
assist the child-minder in the care of the young children under her charge.
At the end of the year 102 statutorily registered child-minders were providing
places for 200 children.
Voluntary Child-Minders Scheme
Because of the extension of the requirement to register introduced by the 1968
Act the scheme for the voluntary registration of people minding less than three children
ceased, since its object of spreading supervision can now be achieved under the new Act.
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