London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

St Pancras 1930

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]

This page requires JavaScript

38
Nursery Schools.
The undermentioned Nursery Schools are situated in the Borough. They provi le care,
facilities for play, training in good habits, and some elementary instruction for children who
are too young to be admitted to the ordinary schools.
They are provided chiefly by voluntary effort, and no grant is made by the Borough
Council. The work is valuable and an increase in the amount of accommodation is
desirable.
Name and Situation. Accommodation. Average daily attendance.
Somers Town Nursery School, 18, Crowndale Road 48 40
Jellicoe Nursery School, 6a, Rochford Street 60 53
Mary Ward Nursery School, l6. nurton Street . . 25 21
Magdalene Mission Nurserv School. Clarendon btreet 24 21
In addition to the above, a Nursery School was opened during the year in Charrington
Hall, Charrington Street, by the Committee of the St. Pancras House Improvement Society,
Ltd. Accommodation is provided for 20 children.
A small Nursery School or Play Centre is also available for about two hours daily, in the
mornings only, at the Trinity Presbyterian Hall, Buck Street. The numbers are limited
according to the amount of help available, but the average daily attendance is about 17.
Sun Bathing Play Centre.
In June a communication was received from the Sunlight League with reference to a
children's Sun Bathing Centre in Regent's Park.
H.M. Office of Works had devoted a sum of money, raised by the First Commissioner,
for the purpose of erecting a shelter for use in connection with sun bathing, the Sunlight
League having advocated such centres in a deputation to the Office of Works.
The communication stated that the League found themselves faced with complete
responsibility of administration, but did not feel able, by virtue of its constitution, to undertake
it. Neither could the First Commissioner of Works carry out the task, as he was not
empowered to do so. Under these circumstances, the League expressed the hope that the
Borough Council, who they believed instituted the first Infant Welfare Centre, would be the
first to administer a Sun Bathing Centre in a London Park. The Public Health Committee
recommended and the Council agreed to take over the administration of the Centre, the salary
of the supervisor to be defrayed by the Sunlight League and incidental expenses by the
Council.
The Centre was not completed until the beginning of August, but during that month
and until the end of September it was open daily.
The following report on the scheme was subsequently submitted to the Council:—
10th October, 1930.
To the Chairman and Members of the Public Health Committee.
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Sun Bathing Play Centre.
It was reported in the Council's Minutes of June 25tli (page 435) that a shelter was to be
erected in Regent's Park by H.M. Office of Works and a portion of ground enclosed for the
purpose of a Sun Bathing Play Centre for children. The scheme was originally suggested by
the Sunlight League, but as that Society did not feel able, by virtue of its constitution, to undertake
the work of supervision and management, the Borough Council was approached and agreed
to be responsible for these duties when the premises were ready.