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age. Three of the nurseries are classified as training nurseries and provide
practical training facilities for student nursery nurses undertaking courses
for the examinati'oni of the Nursery Nurses Examination Board.
In addition the Council has a claim on 25 places at a voluntary day Nursery
in respect of which an annual grant is made to the voluntary body concerned.
Notification was received from this voluntary association, the Council of the
Stepney Jewish C)ubs and Sett 1ement. that through financial difficulties inmaintaining
the high standards of the nursery under present rising costs they intend to open
negotiations with the Inner London Educat ion Author i ty wi th the obj ec t of that Authority
taking over this day nursery as a maintained nursery school.
Children are admitted to the nurseries in the following circumstances:
First priority is given to cases where the mother is in ill-health and
cannot adequately care for the children, or during a mother's confinement;
where living conditions are detrimental to health or where it is considered
desirable for the health of the child that it should be admitted to a nursery;
where mothers are required to work because they are widows, unmarried, separated
or divorced or whose husbands are totally disabled or in prison, provided the
mother works at least 35 hours a week.
In addition there are the second and third priority categories, for
children whose mothers are compelled to go to work as an economic necessity,
and where vacancies are not required in the other priority classes, for
children whose parents are both working, provided that the mother is employed
at least 35 hours a week.
Staffing problems of day nurseries still remain acute, particularly with regard
to the categories of nursery assistants and students. As will be seen on page
73 the turnover of staff for the year was considerable.
Under the Urban Aid Programme the Home Office agreed to make a grant towards
the construction of a purpose-built Day Nursery in 1970/71, at an estimated cost
of £48,290, to replace existing unsatisfactory premises. The premises were under
construction at the end of the year.
Private day nurseries and pre-school playgroups are also subject to the provisions
of the Nurseries and Chi 1d-Minders Regulation Act 1948, as amended. At the end of the
year two private day nurseries and 22 playgroups were registered which provided
facilities for 485 children.
Under the Urban Programme (3rd phase) the Home Office approved revenue expenditure
of £7,000 for grants to voluntary playgroups.
Statistics will be found on page 92.
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