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The numbers on the waiting lists for the St. Pancras nurseries total nearly 1,000. Of
these, 50 are definitely priority cases and a further 20 are doubtful priority cases awaiting
Health Visitors' reports. Incidentally, the number of priority applications has increased considerably
of late, and voluntary welfare organisations as well as the welfare centres are constantly
making application on behalf of special cases. 500 children were admitted to St. Pancras
day nurseries during 1947, and approximately 350 of these were priority cases. Now the
nurseries are full, vacancies are rare, and go generally to priority cases only.
In view of the long waiting list and the large number of urgent priority cases, consideration
has at various times been given to the method of selecting children for admission to day nurseries
and investigations were made during the year at two of the nurseries for the purpose of ascertaining
the social conditions of children in attendance. The position was found to be as follows:
(a) Places at these nurseries—107.
(b) In order to compensate for absenteeism and to secure the use of the nurseries
to full capacity, allocation is made to roughly 20 per cent. above the complement, which
means that 130 children were on the register, of which:
33 were illegitimate.
21 had parents who were separated or divorced.
14 had widowed mothers.
14 had fathers who were invalids unable to work full time.
8 were children of staff at the nurseries.
3 had mothers who married after the child was admitted.
3 were admitted on account of the mother's poor health.
2 had fathers in only temporary employment or unemployed a long time.
2 (sisters) had a father completely irresponsible and lazy. Wife had reported
him three times for neglect.
1 had mother who was a State Registered Nurse.
1 had father in prison.
1 child was very backward, and home conditions most unsatisfactory.
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This left only 27 children, out of a total of 130, who had been admitted from the nonpriority
waiting list.
It will be seen from the above that the nurseries are filling a very urgent need in the
borough.