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76
Private day nurseries and child-minders
The registration of private day nurseries, playgroups and childminders
and their subsequent supervision has continued to make
heavy demands on the staff. A steady stream of new applications
flowed into the Department throughout the year. In all, 423 were
received, 235 were withdrawn and there were 59 cancellations. At
the end of the year the number of applications outstanding was
487 compared with some 300 twelve months previously.
Considerable time has again been devoted to giving advice and
guidance to people wishing to mind children to ensure that the
standards of child care and the condition of premises meet the
requirements of the amendments contained in the Health Services
and Public Health Act, 1968. It has remained a point of concern
that some parents place their children for day care without first
ascertaining the conditions under which their children are to spend
the day, and without first enquiring whether or not the childminder
is registered.
At the end of the year there were 64 private day nurseries, which
include part-time playgroups, and 174 registered child-minders,
which include playgroups held in private houses. Many more
applicants were in the process of being registered.
Apart from the number of applications for registration, advice
was sought by private individuals, industrial concerns, hospitals,
colleges and associations wishing to open day nurseries or playgroups.
These requests for advice and guidance on good management
were very welcome.
We were successful in maintaining the high level of co-operation
which exists between the Council's medical and health visiting
staff and the various associations and individuals, the care and
wellbeing of the child always being the first consideration.
Health surveys
During the year, the Health Department has continued to give
as much assistance as possible in surveys which have been initiated
by various organisations.
Details of two of these are set out below
Dysmature children
Five dysmature children, i.e. undersized at birth although not
born prematurely, are being followed-up in the Borough as part
of a survey which is being undertaken by the Department of Gynaecology
at St. Thomas's Hospital. As a result of work done over
the past five years, the Department of Gynaecology believe that