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groups. A detailed review of the position in the borough was undertaken and the
Council resolved—
(1) that such children in the priority groups as are approved by the Medical
Officer of Health be placed in all-day care in private nurseries or with
child-minders and the Council be responsible for the payment of charges;
(2) that the Council seeks the approval of the Minister to the recovery of
charges from parents, according to means, for placements made under the
foregoing resolution;
(3) that the Medical Officer of Health be authorised to extend, at his discretion,
the placing of children in the priority groups in private day nurseries and
with child-minders and be asked to report in due course upon any such
extension;
(4) that daily guardians (who will in future be required to register under the
Nurseries and Child Minders Regulation Act, 1948, as amended) be notified
that the Council's present scheme of payment will cease on 31st March,
1969; and
(5) that the ratios of staff to children in regard to nurseries and child-minders
be as recommended by the Minister.
Creches
No creches are provided by the Council but it is proposed to provide a creche
at the Health Centre being built in Hertford Road, Edmonton.
Nurseries and Child Minders
Under the Nurseries and Child Minders Regulation Act, 1948, a local health
authority shall make arrangements for the keeping of registers and the supervision
of nurseries and child minders.
This Act was amended from 1st November, 1968, by Section 60 of the Health
Services and Public Health Act, 1968, as follows :
(a) The most important change was the extension of the penalties for unlawful
minding to include persons who received less than three children for reward.
(b) The period of part-time care during the day above which registration was
required, was defined as two hours or longer.
(c) Extended powers were given to refuse registration on grounds concerning
equipment; previously registrations could only be refused on the grounds
that the person or the premises were unfit.
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