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Admissions to the day nurseries and the day-to-day supervision of the service is
carried out by the Superintendent Matron. Each nursery is staffed by a matron, a
deputy matron, a nursery warden, nursery nurses, and in the training nurseries by
student nursery nurses. The number of staff at each nursery is determined by an
overall ratio of staff/children 1 : 5. Charges are assessed on family income. The
maximum charge is 17s. 6d. per day per child, though the average charge is much
lower than this. Handicapped children are admitted free.
During the year, 220 new admissions were made to the day nurseries, of which
11 children were handicapped.
Thirteen children were also placed in the adjacent Boroughs' day nurseries of
Harrow, Hounslow and Hillingdon; 15 children from the Hounslow area were
admitted to Longcot Day Nursery.
A total of four students were trained in the year.
This year has seen an increase of priority cases, especially for children under two
years, and for deaf children recommended for admission by the Audiology Unit
at Heston, and has resulted in long waiting lists for all nurseries. Lack of a day
nursery in Southall has also thrown an added burden on the Ealing and Acton day
nurseries.
REGISTRATION OF PRIVATE DAY NURSERIES AND CHILD MINDERS
Private day nurseries and child minders are required to be registered and inspected
by the Council under the provisions of the Nurseries and Child-Minders Regulation
Act, 1948, with the object of safeguarding the health and welfare of the children.
A child minder is defined as a person who receives into her home for reward three
or more children for the substantial part of the day or up to six days; a private day
nursery is defined as premises where children are received other than a private
dwelling, e.g., church hall, for a similar length of time. On receipt of an application
to be a child minder or to open a day nursery a visit is made by the Principal Medical
Officer (Maternal and Child Health) and the Superintendent Matron of Day Nurseries
to satisfy themselves that the premises are fit for a nursery and that the persons
employed in looking after the children are fit and proper persons, as required by the
Council's own specified standards. Registration being completed, the Superintendent
Matron carries out further inspections at regular intervals. The Council has decided
to register pre-school play groups under the Act and these are similarly inspected.
Any allegations that an unregistered person is minding three or more children, or
that a daily minded child is not receiving adequate care, are promptly investigated
and dealt with.
During the year:—
Number of child minders inspected 7
Number of private day nurseries inspected 15
Number of new child minders registered 1
Number of new private day nurseries registered 4
Number of complaints of inadequate child minding investigated 5
In September, an application was received for financial assistance towards the
establishment of a Multi-Racial Pre-School Play Group in Southall, the aim of
which is to assist the integration of the Indian community situated in that part of
the Borough. Following detailed discussion between members of the Council and
many interested bodies supporting the project, the Council approved financial
support being given. The project will be regarded as a pilot scheme in the first
instance and will be reviewed after a reasonable period.
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