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legitimise an expected birth is very often impossible in
war time. In peace time in England and Wales 20%
of first births were legitimised by marriage after conception.
By the end of the year four day nurseries were in
operation in the Borough and one 24 hour nursery.
There was a waiting list of 75 children for admission.
The Okehampton Nurery for 60 children was in course
of erection and a nursery in Bellegrove Road, Welling,
proposed, as the Ministry of Labour required provision
for children of mothers in part-time employment.
During the year there was no accommodation available
for children whose mothers were in part-time employment.
The nurseries have continued to serve an essential
purpose with obvious benefit physically and mentally
to the children in them. With nursing supervision the
physical side of children in nurseries has always been
well catered for and with further development during
the year of the educational side the role of the nursery
is assuming its proper proportions.
The continued high birth rate with large clinic
attendances has necessitated increased ante-natal and
child welfare sessions and the Council agreed to the use
of adaptable premises in Wrotham Boad and Falconwood.
The provision of clinic accommodation in these
areas was held up by the outbreak of war but could not
be postponed any longer. This additional service is
appreciated as judged by attendances. It was also necessary
to increase the dental sessions as the waiting list
was becoming alarmingly big.
The housing position becomes more acute but as new
houses cannot be provided before the end of the war, the
Council have before them schemes for post-war housing.
I estimate that at least 500 new houses are required in
the Borough for the rehousing of families living in
houses not fit for habitation or overcrowded as judged
by the Housing Act, Standards in addition to 618 houses
required for rehousing of families still living in areas
scheduled under Slum Clearance before the war. With
the addition of houses required for married couples
living with parents and new marriages a big programme
lies ahead.
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