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Nurseries and Child Minders Regulation Act 1948
At the end of 1969, 48 premises were registered, providing a
total of 1,619 places, compared with 45 premises and 1,533
places at the end of the previous year. One factory day nursery
providing full-time day care for 24 children is included in these
figures. The remaining registrations relate in the main to playgroups
held in church halls, community centres, etc. where the
children attend for a few hours only each day.
The number of child-minders registered rose from 30 to 91
during the year. This increase was largely due to new registrations
effected as a result of the coming into operation of Section
60 of the Health Service and Public Health Act 1968, requiring
persons caring for one or two children to be registered, whereas
under the previous legislation registration was only required
when more than two children were being cared for. As mentioned
in my report for 1968, publicity concerning this change in the
Law was given in the form of posters, advertisements in local
papers etc., and resulted in a large increase in the work Staff
involved in dealing with Applications for Registration. Apart
from the Health Visiting Staff, Fire Prevention Officers and
Public Health Inspectors are also concerned with inspecting the
premises to ascertain their suitability and advise on measures
to be taken to see that both fire precautions and environmental
conditions are satisfactory. In addition, close liaison is maintained
with the Planning Department to see that any Registrations
effected do not contravene Town Planning Regulations.
A booklet entitled "Day Care of Children under Five" has
been produced by the Department, which gives useful information
for Child-Minders and for Play Groups and Day Nurseries. This
Booklet sets out in brief the requirements regarding Staff and
premises, gives helpful advice regarding the care of the children,
and also includes details of the recommended schedule of
vaccination and immunisation, of the common infectious diseases,
and commonsense safety precautions. Copies of the Booklet
"Play with a Purpose" and "Not Yet Five" are also issued free
of charge from the Department to all persons registered under
this legislation.
Home Nursing
The work of the District Nurses, which goes quietly on every
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