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Day Nurseries.
Two Day Nurseries have been established in this District, both of
which are chiefly maintained by voluntary subscriptions, but towards
the cost of which the Council makes an annual grant equivalent to
approximately one-third of the total cost of the Nurseries.
The Purley Day Nursery has accommodation for an average of
33 children, while the Coulsdon Day Nursery can take an average of
23. The total attendances during 1938 were 6,246 and 6,798 respectively.
This accommodation is relatively high for the population of this
District when compared with the Country as a whole, but both Nurseries
do very useful work. It is recognised, however, that compared with
other forms of Infant Welfare work, apart from residential treatment,
the provision of Day Nurseries is much the most expensive branch of
such work undertaken or subsidised by the Council. There is also a
divergence of opinion as to how far mothers should be encouraged to
leave their homes in order, usually to supplement the family income.
Undoubtedly, however, there are few, if any, of those who were using
the Nurseries during 1938 who did not definitely need to provide or
augment the family income, while, had the Nurseries not been in existence,
the majority would still have gone out to work, and their children been
left probably in less healthy surroundings. The influence on the training
and development of the children is also a factor of great importance.
Child Life Protection.
The Health Visitors are all recognised Infant Life Protection Officers.
During the year 17 foster-mothers have been under supervision,
52 children being distributed amongst the homes.
During the year 1 registration was cancelled, 1 child died (an inquest
being held), 8 children were removed in due course to an Adoption
Society, 1 child was similarly removed to a Foundling Home, and 1 child
was adopted locally.
The locality in which the Homes were situated was as follows:—
Coulsdon 9
Kenley 2
Selsdon 1
Sanderstead 1
Purley Oaks 1
Purley 3
HOUSING.
During the year 1,135 houses were inspected for housing defects
as compared with 824 last year and 924 and 331 in the preceding two
years.
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