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New Day Nurseries. At the "appointed day" the programme for the
expansion of the day nursery service provided that in addition to the
existing nurseries (Gale Street, Eastbury and Lodge Farm) a further
nursery should be opened in the former Castle School, i.e. Rippleside
Day Nursery. It was further envisaged that an additional day nursery
(making 5 in all) should be erected in the western part of the town
and that eventually a new day nursery should be erected to replace
Eastbury House.
Since 2 nurseries had been closed within a year it was obvious
that the additional (fifth) nursery would not be required in the forseeable
future, and it was agreed that the St. Ann's Road site should
be relinquished to the Housing Committee rather than leave the site
vacant and derelict indefinitely. There was, however, an understanding
that eventually, should there be the need, a site would be made available
in the Gascoigne re-development area.
The position regarding the Mayesbrook Meadow Nursery was
somewhat different. The closure of two nurseries had left us with
only Eastbury and Gale Street. The National Trust were pressing
for the return of Eastbury House since the lease was already up, and
the life of the Gale Street premises was limited to just over ten years
by planning restrictions. Plans are, therefore, being prepared for a
new building on the Mayesbrook Meadow at the junction of Upney
Lane and Ripple Road, which will be near to the existing Eastbury
Nursery yet more convenient for transport to most parts of the
Borough—an important consideration if this becomes your only
nursery when Gale Street eventually closes.
Nursery and Child Minders' Regulation Act. During the year the
remaining two registrations of Child Minders were cancelled.
dental services
Mr. A. r. Levy, Dental Officer, reports:—
Maternity and Child Welfare Service. The number of pre-school
children who were brought for treatment showed an increase over
the previous year. But far too many of these cases are brought in
only after severe pain, when extraction is usually then the sole remedy.
Dental decay at this age is frequently extremely rapid; but it is also
not generally realized how excellently the average toddler will tolerate
filling procedures, or even enjoy them, if he can be treated before the
caries have progressed too far.
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