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 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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Three types of centre are provided, i.e., junior mixed for children under 16
years and separate centres for boys and girls aged 16 years and over. The centres
are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily from Monday to Friday during primary school
terms.
The centres established up to 31st December, 1948, were:—
| Date of opening | Address of centre | Borough | Average No. on roll | Average daily attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July, 1948 (closed December, 1948) | St. Augustine's Hall, Cadogan Terrace, E.9. | Hackney | 34 | 27 |
| July, 1948 | London Mission, Methodist Church Hall, Shepherd's Bush Road, W.6 | Hammersmith | 28 | 21 |
| Reopened, September, 1948 (closed June-August, 1948) | St. Margaret's House, 19, Old Ford Road, E.2 | Bethnal Green | 15 | 10 |
| September, 1948 | Methodist Church Hall, Albion Way, S.E.13 | Lewisham | 30 | 22 |
| September, 1948 | Caxton House Community Centre, 19, Andover Road, N.7 | Islington | 22 | 14 |
| July, 1948 | Fellowship Hall, 182, Hammersmith Road, W.6 | Hammersmith | 22 | 17 |
| September, 1948 | St. Michael's Hall, Darley Road, S.W.11 | Battersea | 17 | 15 |
| Total | 168 | 126 | ||
Note.—Maximum rolls (total 190) were not reached during this period, mainly owing to difficulties in
obtaining guides to bring the children to the centres.
Note.—Maximum rolls (total 190) were not reached during this period, mainly
owing to difficulties in obtaining guides to bring the children to the centres.
On terms agreed with the Kent County Council four London children attended
a whole-day centre at Bromley, Kent, and approximately 16 (including cases on
licence) attended the occupation centre at the Fountain hospital.
The Organiser of Occupation Centres appointed by the Education Committee
was seconded to the Public Health Department to continue her duties.
Except where local circumstances require a variation, centres are staffed by a
supervisor, an assistant supervisor and (except at elder boys' centres) a woman
attendant. At the end of the year there were sixteen supervisors and assistant
supervisors. Guides are employed to bring groups of children to the centres. In
necessitous cases the children's fares are paid wholly or partly by the Council.
Arrangements have been made for some occupation centre staff to attend
courses in physical training, handicrafts and infant subjects, and a short general
refresher course for staff was planned to take place during the Easter vacation, 1949,
with a view to improving the standards of training in the centres.
Mid-day meals provided by the Restaurants and Catering Dept. are deliveerd
in heated containers to each centre, for which a charge of 5d. (waived or reduced in
necessitous cases) is made to each child. Free milk is supplied to all those under
18 years under the Ministry of Food's Milk in Schools Scheme.
At Christmas, 1948, a party at which parents attended was given to the children
at each centre and, with the progress of handicraft work, open days and other
functions will be arranged.