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majority are over two years of age and have frequent medical inspections,
but the total numbers involved are not large. Further propaganda is
needed to impress on parents the value of these annual overhauls.
Eye Defects and Treatment.
Arrangements have been made whereby children suffering from eye
defects can be referred by appointment to special sessions for young
children held at the Surrey County Council's Clinic in Whytecliffe Road,
Purley, and in 1946 appointments were made for 14 children to attend.
Dental Treatment.
The number of ante-natal and nursing mothers and children under
five years of age who received dental treatment from the private dental
surgeons assisting under the Council's scheme decreased from 121 in
1946 to 88 in 1947. The reduced scale of charges in respect of children
which the Council decided to adopt in 1945, improved the number of
acceptances for that age group, but, there being no corresponding
variation in the scale for mothers, the percentage of those who refused
treatment increased, especially as the maximum charges for treatment
had meanwhile been raised.
Day Nurseries.
The year commenced with accommodation for about 18 children
under the age of 2-2 J years at the Purley Day Nursery and for not more
than 30 children under 3 years of age at the Old Coulsdon Day Nursery,
which latter shares the Wartime Nursery premises with a Nursery School
for 30 children over 3 years of age.
The relationship between the Day Nurseries and Nursery Schools
was dealt with fully in the 1946 Annual Report. The view then expressed
that as soon as practicable the two organisations should be
dissociated was supported by experience during 1947. While the staffs
co-operated closely, the difference in outlook, and particularly in the
normal nursery school hours and holidays, towards which the staff of
Nursery Schools are naturally and constantly aiming, emphasised the
impracticability of continued close association.
During the summer and Christmas holidays the Old Coulsdon Nursery
School only closed for the same periods as the Nurseries, but these
were permitted to close for longer stretches than in previous years as a
compromise. The remaining Nursery Schools closed for the normal
school holidays, and an effort was made to transport and accommodate
at Old Coulsdon the maximum number of children of the mothers whose
domestic circumstances made this action most desirable. During August,
thanks to the numbers taking their holidays, it was possible to accommodate
all the children of parents who really urgently needed this
assistance without permitting overcrowding, which it was most necessary
to avoid, particularly owing to the wave of poliomyelitis then being
experienced. Over half the applicants for places had to be refused,
however.
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