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43
DAY NURSERIES
There are 9 day nurseries with a total of 440 approved places. (Table 1.)
Rules of Admission.
The main principle for admission to day nurseries is the health of the mother and child. Children
from 0 to 5 years of age are accepted if:—
(a) Their mothers are unsupported.
(b) The home conditions are unsatisfactory.
(c) The mothers cannot look after their children adequately.
The following conditions must also apply:—
(a) There is no other satisfactory way of caring for the child.
(b) That it will not affect the health of the child.
(c) That it will assist in the support of the child.
(d) That the mother of the child works for at least 30 hours per week.
If, after satisfying the above conditions, there are still some vacancies, the County Council will
accept children over 2 years of' age, where their parents are willing to pay the full cost.
Application for Admission.
596 applications for admission were made during the year but only 414 children were actually
admitted. The majority of the remainder found the assessment too high (Table 2) or made alternative
arrangements. Over 90% of the cases on the register were in the priority groups, 37% children from
homes where the mother is the sole support. (Table 3.)
Assessed Daily Charge.
The maximum charge per day has remained at 9/-. Many applicants who feel unable to pay the
assessed charge appeal, and attend a meeting of an Appeals sub-committee. The assessments, after all
appeals, are shown in Table 4 (December, 1955).
Attendances.
Most of the day nurseries were used to their full capacity. The average daily attendance showed
little alteration in 2—5 years age group from the previous year but there was a reduction in 0—2 years age
group. (Table 1.)
Infectious Diseases.
Four nurseries had outbreaks of dysentery and some nurseries had cases of measles during the
year. Other outbreaks were mainly isolated cases imported from families of the children attending. (Table 5.)
Christmas Parties.
Christmas parties were held in all the day nurseries, with a special tea, a toy for each child, and an
entertainment. Children from Gibbons Road Primary School gave a puppet show in both Essex Road and
Chichester Road Day Nurseries. The County Council gave 3/- a head for each child attending the
nursery towards the Christmas expenses.
Staff.
The staff is based on one non-domestic for every three children under 2, one for eight children
over 2, but the total must not exceed one for every five children in the nursery. Two students are
equvalent to one trained staff.
Staff Establishment.
Supervisory Matron 1
Matrons 9
Deputy Matrons 9
Wardens 9
Nursing Staff 54
Students 14
Domestic Staff (part-time) 36
The number of staff employed during the year varied according to the number of children on the
registers.
During the year 1 nursery nurse attended the Supplementary Child Care reserve course at
Chiswick Polytechnic and was later appointed as warden.
Six nurseries are approved as training schools for the 2 year National Examination Board course.
The students attend Chiswick Polytechnic for two days weekly. 17 students were in training during the
year and 4 of' them obtained the N.N.E.B. certificates. The remaining 13 students have not yet completed
their training period.