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Nursery schools.
A large amount of spade work has been carried out during the year in connection with the establishment
of nursery schools. A number of voluntary schools have been inspected by the officers in connection
with various applications for recognition. In some cases the provision was inadequate, particularly in
regard to air space and open.air facilities and recognition was declined.
The following seven voluntary nursery schools were recognised, although in some instances
recognition was made provisional upon improvements being carried out:—
1. Goldsmiths' College, Deptford Recognised 23.5.19.
2. "Jellicoe," N. St. Pancras „ „
3. Kilburn (Union Jack), Hampstead „ „
4. Notting.hill, Kensington „ „
5. Rachael Macmillan, Deptford „ „
6. Somers Town, E. St. Pancras „ „
7. Rommany.road, Norwood „ 19.12.19.
Three of the above (Nos. 1, 5 and 7) have been established in connection with training colleges
for teachers. A number of sites have been inspected and reported upon in connection with the proposal
that nursery schools should be provided by the Council. Questions relating to staff, finance, dietaries,
organisation, type of scholar, medical and nursing attendance, etc., have been extensively discussed
and the experience of those connected with existing voluntary nursery schools has been taken fully
into consideration.
It is considered that provision will ultimately be necessary in London for 12,000 children.
It is intended that the first schools to be established should be quite experimental and consequently
many important general principles have been left unsettled in order that nothing shall be done at
the outset which would prejudice the full development of nursery schools on natural lines.
The Council has agreed to the provision as an experiment of three nursery schools (in addition
to one nursery class already existing at Christchurch Schools, Hampstead) to be organised in existing
public elementary schools (attached type) and of three nursery schools apart from public elementary
schools (detached type).
In regard to cost of maintenance it is estimated that for a nursery school for 75 children the
annual cost will be £19 10s. per head in the case of an attached school, and £'20 10s. in the case of a
detached nursery school. This estimate provides among other things for a daily visit of the school
nurse, a fortnightly visit of the school doctor, for an adequate dietary consisting of three meals a day.
and for provision of washing and sleeping accommodation.
It has also been agreed that in the case of nursery schools approved under the regulations of
the Board of Education, but not provided or maintained by the Council, financial aid be granted as from
1st April, 1920, equal to 50 per cent. of the approved expenditure on maintenance, subject to the condition
that one.third of the managers are appointed by the Council.
The voluntary nursery schools are kept under regular supervision by the School Medical Officer, and
in all cases where application has been made the Council's arrangements for medical inspection and
treatment of the children and for nursing assistance have been extended to them.
Open.air education.
The extension of facilities for open.air education was naturally largely in abeyance during the
years of war, but subsequently to the signing of the armistice much activity has been shown in this
field of work. The two open.air schools at Birley House (Forest Hill), and Shooter's Hill (Woolwich),
and the tuberculosis open.air school at Kensal House (Paddington) have been continued. Two additional
open.air schools for tuberculous children have been established at Springwell House (Clapham.common)
and Stormont House (Hackney), two sites for ordinary open.air schools have been secured at Stowey
House (Clapham.common) and Bow.road (Poplar). A large number of additional sites have been
viewed and reported upon.
The principle of establishing convalescent camp schools in the country has been adopted by the
Council and owing to the generosity of His Majesty the King and the Canadian Red Cross Society a
camp school was established at Bushey Park in August, 1919. In addition, a house (Wanstead House)
has been secured at Margate which is to serve in a similar capacity for girls, and a number of aerodromes
and military camps have been visited and reported upon.
Playground classes and classes in open spaces and parks have been continued, and there has
been a revival of interest in school journeys.
Although the amount of provision necessary for continuous open.air education of debilitated,
anaemic and tuberculous children is pretty well established, the needs of London in the matter of holiday
or camp schools are difficult to estimate fully and accurately because of the varying demand at varying
times, the different standards that have from time to time been adopted, and the fluctuating and uncertain
amount of voluntary provision.
The question of the sick child who is out of school and too ill to attend any kind of
school does not appear to be one with which the Council as an education authority is called upon to
deal, and it is probable that voluntary bodies such as the Invalid Children's Aid Association would be
able to deal with this part of child welfare. In conjunction with the Council the Invalid Children's
Aid Association also provides for certain of the tuberculous cases needing sanatorium treatment, and
the Council's own scheme covers the need of the remainder of those tuberculous children who are
unable to attend any sort of day school and require residential treatment.
Of children capable of attending school, various estimations have from time to time been made
as to the number that require some provision for open.air treatment. One estimate which is quoted