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4. DAY CARE OF CHILDREN
PRE-SCHOOL PLAY GROUPS
Pre-school play groups are now recognised as making an important contribution to the
social education of children and therefore, as well as being the registering authority
under the Nurseries and Child Minders Regulation Act, 1948, the Council also encourages
these groups by financial assistance.
At the end of the year there were 46 play-groups in the borough, which included 10
which were registered for the first time during the year. Of the total, 28 which
conformed to the Council's code of practice were in receipt of a Council grant, this
being one-third of the rent of the premises used, to a maximum of £100 per annum.
CHILDMINDERS
The registration of childminders under the revised legislation of the previous year
continued and by the end of the year there were 227 registered childminders in the
borough which included 193 who were registered for the first time during the year.
DAY NURSERY SERVICE
The Day Nursery Service is provided for the care of children aged three months to
five years who are in the priority group. The following circumstances constitute a
priority:-
1. Where the mother is unsupported or for certain other reasons has to go out to
work as an economic necessity.
2. Where home conditions are unsatisfactory from a health point of view or the
mother is in ill-health.
3. where the child is handicapped. Particularly this applies to a physical
handicap, impairment of hearing or sight, or when the child is maladjusted.
4. If the parents are deaf and dumb.
The Council has five day nurseries with a total of 224 places, the details of which
are given below:-
Approved places Maximum number
of places
*1. Windmill Day Nursery,
Windmill Lane, Greenford 50 60
♦2. Culmington Road Day Nursery,
17 Culmington Road, Ealing, w.13 40 48
*3. St. Dunstan's Day Nursery,
Friars Place Lane, Acton, W.3 45 54
4. Longcot Day Nursery,
Newton Grove, W.4 54 65
5. Bollo Bridge Day Nursery,
169 Bollo Bridge Road, Acton, W.3 35 42
♦Training Nurseries.
During the year 234 new admissions were made to day nurseries of which 18 were
handicapped children.
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