London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
London County Council 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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The first nursery class under this provision was established early in 1936, at
Senior-street school, Paddington, to accommodate 40 children, and two similar
classes were started at the Raleigh school at Stepney later in the year.
The nursery classrooms face south and have french windows opening on to the
playgrounds. There is indoor sanitation and provision for bathing. Milk, apples
and rusks are provided, and cod-liver oil on medical recommendation. The babies
are attended to by the school nurse daily, and all are medically examined once
a term.
A study is being conducted whereby, at Senior-street school, the physical
progress of the infants attending the nursery class is being compared with that of
the infants of corresponding age who are attending an ordinary babies' class at
the school. A similar comparison is being made between the children attending
the nursery classes at the Raleigh school and those of the same age attending the
Old Church-road nursery school. It may be possible as a result of these comparisons,
when completed, to assess the benefits to be expected from an extension of the special
nurserv classes.
Nursery
schools.
The three year programme made provision tor an extension of the nursery schools
provided by the Council. Sites have been obtained for this purpose and plans have
been prepared for the erection of two nursery schools, one at Kintore-street in
Bermondsey, and one on the new building estate at Honor Oak in Lewisham. In
addition the Old Church-road nursery school in Stepney is to be increased in accommodation
by 80 places.
One additional voluntary nursery school at Dalgarno-gardens, North Kensington,
has been opened during the year and is aided by the Council. Four
additional voluntary nursery schools are under consideration with a total of 180
places, and one of these at Kensal House, North Kensington, was opened on 12th
January. 1937.
The nursery schools maintained and aided by the Council at the end of the year, 1936, were:—
| Accommodation | |
|---|---|
| 1. Columbia Market, Hackney-road, E.2 | 120 |
| 2. Rachel McMillan, Deptford, S.E.8 | 260 |
| 3. Old Church Road, Commercial-road East, E.l | 120 |
| Total | 500 |
| Aided by the London County Council | |
| *1. Children's House, Bow, E.3 | 35 |
| 2. Dalgarno Gardens, W.10 | 80 |
| 3. Goldsmith's college, New Cross, S.E.14 | 35 |
| 4. North Islington, Tollingtou-park, N.4 | 45 |
| *5. North Kensington, 325, Kensal-road, W.10 | 60 |
| *6. Notting Hill, Darnley-road, W.ll | 80 |
| 7. Rommany, West Norwood, S.E.27 | 40 |
| *8. Jellicoe, Rochford-street, Kentish Town | 54 |
| 9. Mary Ward, Tavistock-place, W.C.I | 30 |
| 10. St. Christopher's, Bridgewater-street, N.W.I | 40 |
| 11. St. Leonard's (St. Andrew's), 93, Guilford-street, | |
| W.C.I | 60 |
| *12. Somers Town, Crowndale-road, N.W.I | 40 |
| *13. Women's university settlement, Blackfriars-road, | |
| S.E.I | 35 |
| 14. Stafford Street settlement, Peckham, S.E.15 | 40 |
| 15. Buck Street, Kentish Town, N.W.I | 40 |
| Total | 714 |
N.B.—The above list excludes the Kensal House nursery school for 60 children opened on
12th January, 1937.
The medical oversight of the nursery schools is under the direction of Dr. E. M.
McVail, divisional medical officer. One of the Council's medical officers visits all