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During the year, there were five applications for registration of premises as day
nurseries and all were approved, making a total of 22 day nurseries providing places
for 538 children in the Borough at the end of the year. The majority of day
nurseries take children only during the morning or afternoon, but two day nurseries
receive children for both the morning and afternoon.
Applications for registration as child minders were received from three persons
during the year, two of which were approved, making a total of 17 child minders
in the Borough at the end of the year, providing care for 176 children. Children
are received for 3½ hours a day or less by 13 of the child minders.
In the Ministry of Health Circular 5/65, the Council was asked to review the
arrangements under the Nurseries and Child Minders Regulations Act, 1948, for
the keeping of registers and supervision of premises and persons.
The Council decided to express to the local Members of Parliament its concern
about the limited powers available to local authorities under the Act in respect of
child minders, and to elicit the support of the Association of Municipal Corporations
to amend legislation.
The Council further decided:
1. That in respect of child minders there be one staff (excluding domestic
staff) to each five children and that all child minders and nurseries be
registered, irrespective of the number of hours per day during which
children are to be received;
2. That a ratio of one staff (excluding domestic staff) to six children be
required in nurseries in the Borough where no children under the age of
two years are admitted, and in other cases the rates be one staff to five
children. (Some relaxation may be agreed where the Council is satisfied
that, on the merits of a particular case, it is reasonable to do so. provided
that in no circumstances shall the ratio of staff to children be less than
1 to 8;—March, 1966); and
3. That in respect of day nurseries certain specified records shall be kept.
The nurseries and child minders were visited by medical staff and health
visitors and the general standard was in all cases satisfactory and in many commendably
high.
Daily Guardians
A scheme is in being whereby persons caring for children outwith the scope
of the Act voluntarily register as daily guardians with the health department and
are paid a small weekly fee for each child minded. The children are required to
attend the neighbouring child welfare clinic. By these means, supervision to ensure
that standards are kept at optimum level is possible for those who otherwise would
be subject to no control. At the end of the year, there were 80 registered daily
guardians caring for some 18 children.
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