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31
Training facilities are available at the Headstone Drive Nursery for
students seeking the qualification of the National Nursery Examination
Board. Each year the number of applicants for training far exceeds the
posts available.
Accordingly during the year it was decided to look into the question of
having the nursery at Walton Avenue recognised as suitable for the
training of nursery nurses. Officials from the Ministry of Health made
several inspection visits and it is hoped that arrangements will be finalised
ready for the new intake of students in 1969.
The work of modernising the washing and toilet facilities at the
Headstone Drive Nursery was completed during the year—the improvements
being much appreciated by both children and staff".
Nurseries and Child Minders Regulation Act
Private day nurseries and child minders are registered under the
Nurseries and Child Minders Regulation Act.
On receipt of requests for registration, arrangements are made for
the applicant(s) to be interviewed by a Medical Officer at the home or
premises where it is proposed to carry out the daily care of children.
This gives an opportunity of assessing the applicant's qualifications
and suitability to carry out this type of work and also to discuss the
standards which the Council would require in order to effect registration.
Following registration, periodic visits are made by a Medical Officer
to all premises and in addition visits are made by health visitors to ensure
that the conditions of registration are being observed and in general to
give advice on the well being of the children.
During 1968 the number of applications for registration under the
above Act continued to increase and the numbers registered rose to 68
from 61 in 1967.
Section 60 of the Health Services and Public Health Act, 1968,
amends the Nurseries and Child Regulation Act, 1948, and the Ministry of
Health (now the Department of Health and Social Security) issued two
relevant circulars during the year.
Circular 36/68 brought Section 60 into operation on the 1st November,
1968, from which date the 1948 Act is extended to premises in which one or
more children under the age of five years are minded for two or more
hours per day for reward. The original Act referred to an undefined
"substantial part of a day" and operated when more than two children
were minded for reward.