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4. In assessing applications for all admissions an over.riding consideration shall be
that the parent(s) is/are unable to make other satisfactory arrangements for the care
of the children.
5. The Divisional Medical Officer, with the approval of the Chairman of the
Divisional Health Committee, is authorised at his discretion, to admit in appropriate
cases, the children of mothers working fewer hours than stipulated in the foregoing
rules, 1, 2 and 3.
6. Places offered to children in the third priority class referred to in rule 3, shall
be initially for six months (unless a temporary admission for a shorter period is
required), subject to review after that time as in rule 8 below and renewals for subsequent
periods of six months shall be permitted, provided that vacancies are not
required at the time of review for children in the higher priority classes.
7. The Divisional Medical Officer shall have over.riding discretion to admit any
other cases presenting special features and any appeal from his decision shall be considered
by the Chairman of the Divisional Health Committee.
8. A review of the circumstances of the parents of all children admitted to day
nurseries, including, where appropriate verification of parents' incomes, shall be made
at six.monthly intervals from the date of admission. Where a child no longer falls
within the first or second priority classes, a third priority vacancy shall be offered
wherever possible in accordance with the rules.
During 1954, the demand for places for children in the first and second priority groups
continued to show signs of falling, but admissions under the third priority averted a
decline in total attendances. As stated in the report for last year, the third priority group
and the scale of supplementary charges were introduced on 2nd November, 1953, but
application to children already on the registers was deferred until 4th January, 1954, to
enable the parents' circumstances to be reviewed. As a result of this review a total of
1,520 children were re.classified as third priority. During the first six months of the
year 199 children were withdrawn from the nurseries because of the supplemental
charge ; of these 13 started school, 93 were cared for by the mother, who had either
given up work or was working at home, and 35 were placed in the care of relatives.
In the case of the remaining 58 children it was verified that other satisfactory arrangements,
such as their care by child.minders, had been made.
Experiments were conducted over a considerable period to investigate the advantages
of the use of washing machines in day nurseries. It was found that a financial saving,
albeit small, could be anticipated in respect of the cost of washing and ironing, and
that this would be enhanced by the longer life of the articles. Other advantages included
the opportunity to reduce the stock carried because of the more rapid turnover and
the avoidance of the accumulation of large quantities of soiled linen, etc., on the
premises. In consequence washing machines and drying cabinets were provided at a
number of day nurseries where the installations could be carried out without considerable
structural alterations.
Voluntary With the Council's concurrence, the voluntary committee administering the St. Paul's
Organisations day, nursey Stepney, decided to close the nursery because of falling attendances.
This nursery which provided 35 places closed on 16th July, 1954. Arrangements with
five other voluntary associations providing day nurseries continued throughout the
year and a grant was made towards the maintenance costs of one part.time day nursery.
The provision of facilities at occasional creches remained at the level existing in the
previous year.
Nurseries and Child Minders (Regulation) Act, 1948
In addition to those child.minders who are required to register under the Act, the
Council has encouraged others, i.e., those who mind one or two children, to register
voluntarily with the Council, and a small weekly registration fee is paid in return for
which their homes are subject to inspection.
Occasional
Criches
Child.
minders
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