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The Council has made provision in the Ten Year Plan for two new day
nurseries, each incorporating a ten place nursery unit for mentally subnormal infants.
One is scheduled for 1967 and the other for 1969. In 1971 it is intended to replace
the present day nursery at Fore Street with another purpose-built 55 place day
nursery, also incorporating a 10 place nursery unit for mentally handicapped
children.
Admission to the day nurseries is governed by a scheme of priorities laid down
by the Council and based on medico-social need.
Charges are in accordance with a general assessment scale, but certain
categories are admitted free of charge, e.g. handicapped children and children over
one year of age of deaf and dumb mothers.
At the end of the year, 58 children were on the attendance roll at the Fore
Street Day Nursery, and these fell within the following priority categories :
Unsupported mothers 38
Mother's ill-health 7
Financial circumstances 7
Handicapped children 4
Unsatisfactory home conditions 2
Two children were on the waiting list.
The standard of accommodation and care in the Council's day nursery conforms
as far as the structural limitations of the building and site area allow, to that
recommended by the Ministry of Health.
Creches
There are no creches provided by the Council in the Borough. It is intended
to provide a creche in the proposed Health Centre in Hertford Road.
Residential Nurseries
There are two residential nurseries in the Borough under the control of the
Children's Department.
Each child is on the list of a general medical practitioner, but by arrangement
with the Children's Officer, a medical officer of the Health Department medically
examines the children on admission, every three months approximately, and prior
to discharge. Arrangements are also made for immunisation.
Nurseries and Child Minders
Under the Nurseries and Child Minders Regulations Act, 1948, a local health
authority shall make arrangements for the keeping of registers and the supervision
of nurseries and child minders.
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