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Clothing.—The W.V.S. have now discontinued their help in making garments. The Nursery staff have made
up most of the garments with the aid of only one sewing machine. It is hoped to provide ready-made garments in
future. Mrs. Baldwin continues to help with sewing.
Building Repairs. Most of the Nurseries are in urgent need of redecoration and adequate fencing. Frequent
burglaries cause considerable anxiety.
Training of Students. In May, 1945, seven students sat for the Nursery Nurses' Diploma. Five students obtained
the Diploma, two passed the practical section only. In November, 1945, three students entered, one obtained the
Diploma, one passed in theory only, and one in practical section only. There are seven candidates for the May,
1946, examination.
REGISTERED DAILY GUARDIANS
The scheme of the Ministry of Labour and National Service for Registered Daily Guardians came into operation
in Willesden in May, 1942, and is operated from the Health Centres. Suitable guardians are registered at the Health
Centres and notified as to the number of daily children they may take and the Labour Exchange is informed.
Mothers are put in touch with Guardians if necessary. The mother makes her own arrangements with the Guardian
as regards the care and feeding of the children and the weekly sum payable. The Labour Exchange makes an
additional payment to the Guardian of 4s. in respect of each child under, 5 years cared for on 4 or more days a week
and 2s. for 1 to 3 days per week. The Exchange looks into the question of whether the mother's employment is war
work.
The Council's Health Visitors supervise the Registered Daily Guardians and pay not less than monthly visits
to them.
At the end of 1945 28 Daily Guardians were registered to take 41 children. This is half the number for the
previous year. Of these 28 Guardians, 23 actually had children in their care at the end of the year. These 23 had
26 children in their care.
The objections to this scheme are that the 4s. is an inadequate contribution from the Government and the
forms deter some people from making use of the scheme. If a mother can get her child into a War-time Nursery
for 1s. per day or 6s. per week she is not likely to show much enthusiasm for a scheme under which she has to pa\
the bulk of the daily guardian's fee. At a nursery all food is supplied and the full rations are still available for home
use. This is not so in the case of Daily Registered Guardians. Certain clothing is also supplied in the nurseries
which saves wear and tear of the children's own clothing and a considerable amount of laundry work is done for them
at the nursery.
The Ministy of Labour and National Serv ice ceased to sponsor and give financial aid to this scheme after
March 31st, 1946.
REPORT ON SPEECH THERAPY.
During the Autum term, which started on September 11th, 143 children have been examined for defective
speech. Of this number 87 were selected as being likely to benefit from immediate treatment. 15 are to be
reexamined in 6 months' time and 6 are to be re-examined in 12 months' time.
These are mostly young children whose defects may clear up without special help.
Six are to be given treatment after operations for Cleft Palate or Tonsils and Adenoids. 1 is to be given speech
therapy after receiving medical treatment for ears.
Of those who were not accepted for treatment : 18 were found to be suffering from only very slight defects,
4 seemed unlikely to benefit owing to very retarded mental condition, 1 were attending at a hospital, I had a parent
who objected to treatment, and 1 had unsatisfactory home conditions which seemed to be the cause of the stammer.
So far, one Centre has been established where 15 children have received treatment once or twice weekly.
Of these, 3 show very great improvement, 6 are progressing satisfactorily, and 6 show only a slight improvement.