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a site in Church-street and The Stowage. This building is of brick and has a south
aspect. The playroom, airy and pleasant, measures 46 feet by 20 feet, allowing
18 square feet per child. Access to the playground, laid out with flower beds, is by
five French windows.
It is generally agreed that a very valuable feature of nursery schools is the
summer holiday, which most superintendents contrive to arrange. In 1932 ten of
the 15 schools sent all or many of the children to the country for periods ranging
from two to six weeks. At two other schools efforts are being made to have such a
holiday in 1933.
The Eachel McMillan nursery school, from which in 1932 it was possible to send
away only the most delicate children, was during the summer closed for only six
school days. In September Dr. O'Connor reported as follows:—
I was greatly impressed by the healthy, bright, alert appearance of the children who had
been in attendance, compared with the pale, listless, tired-looking children who had been admitted
at the beginning of the term.
The absence of sores was remarkable. The re-opening of the school after the usual summer
closure has always been marked by the number of children requiring treatment for septic sores
and personal hygiene.
The absence of diarrhoea has also to be noted. No cases occurred among the two-year olds
in attendance.
I understand some severe cases of sunburn have occurred among the children living in the
district. No case has been reported among the children attending the school.
The attendance at the beginning of this term has been better than usual and it is expected
this will be maintained, as the mothers are so pleased with the condition of their children they do
not consider they need the usual ''hopping" holiday.
The average attendance during holidays was 217 out of 260.
Twelve months ago a new diet was introduced into the "special" shelter reserved for the
most delicate children.
The main difference between the new and the ordinary diet is an increase in the amount of
fruit and vegetables, an allowance of liver twice a week, cod liver oil and malt twice a day and
barley sugar twice a day.
It is interesting to note the way in which the children have responded to the change, as
usually this type of child is rather suspicious of anything new introduced into the menu. Tripe
is not popular, it is looked upon with disfavour and always referred to as the "soapy dinner."
On the other hand liver with stew is eaten readily by all the children. The addition of a little
grated cheese to a dish causes it to be eaten with great relish; there is never any of this left over.
Fruit and barley sugar daily probably lessen the craving for sweets after school hours.
Most of the children on admission to the special shelter suffer from some form of digestive
disturbance. In many cases this is due to dietetic errors, constipation, rickets, etc. Tea, fish
and chips, stewed eels and cooked foods are the usual diet of the pre-school child in this neighbourhood.
Milk, cocoa, vegetable stews, minoe, etc., are all new foods to these children, and on admission
they are sometimes a little difficult about food.
One little girl, aged about 2 years, whom I knew at the school a few years ago, wanted
nothing but tea. I enquired and found that prior to coming to the nursery school she had tea
six times a day, beginning at 6 a.m.
Miss Atkins, who is in charge of the shelter, informs me that it is remarkable how very few
of the children suffer from any digestive or bowel trouble now. On the whole the children in
the shelter look healthy, have a good colour and appear more " alive."
The average attendance in this shelter is 83 per cent., and in a similar shelter (non-medical)
85 per cent.
At Old Church-road nursery school, 37 children were taken away for three
weeks during the summer holiday to Banstead. These were selected by the school
doctor for delicacy or over-crowding at home, and were afterwards reported to
have benefited markedly by the change. During the winter term their health and
attendance were particularly good.
The trouble taken in making such holiday arrangements is often very great,
and shows unlimited devotion by the superintendents and their helpers.
The question of disinfection of tooth brushes having arisen, the advice of Mr.
Samuel, the Council's consulting dental surgeon, was obtained and the following
circular was issued to nursery schools :—
(1) Tooth brushes should be soaked weekly for 20 minutes in a solution of
1 in 100 carbolic acid, or, alternatively, in a solution of 1 in 2,500 thymol.
After disinfection they should be thoroughly rinsed in clean water.