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27
The Nurseries and Child Minders Regulations Act 1948
The Borough Council is responsible under this Act for the
registration of private day nurseries and daily minders.
At the end of the year 20 nurseries providing a total of
431 places and 37 daily minders, authorised to care for up to 258
children, were registered.
CHILDREN'S HOMES
The Children's Committee has four homes in the borough and
two in Esher. The premises are inspected quarterly by a medical
officer of the Health and Welfare Department and a report is made on
general conditions, cleanliness, ventilation etc., and on sleeping
quarters, kitchens, dietary etc.
Treatment of the children in all the homes is undertaken by
the general practitioners concerned but in the four homes within the
borough, departmental medical officers undertake the routine medical
inspections when visiting, and on admission and discharge; they advise
generally on the promotion of positive health of the children.
HOMES FOR MOTHERS AND BABIES
There are no homes for mothers and babies in the borough.
During 1966 the Council accepted financial responsibility for 28
unmarried expectant mothers sent to homes run by other authorities
or voluntary organisations. The usual period of acceptance is for
six weeks before and six weeks after confinement.
CHILDREN "AT RISK"
Cases of children who are thought to be specially susceptible
to handicaps are reported at birth by midwives, on special cards printed
for the purpose. From these and other reports the "at risk" register
is compiled and the medical and nursing staff pay particular attention
to the babies who are included. Screening tests for impaired hearing
are carried out and the babies are also watched carefully in case any
evidence of the relevant abnormalities develops.
The following are the categories of babies included in
the "at risk" register:
A. Those with a family history of:
1. Deafness, blindness, neurological diseases,
cerebral palsy, epilepsy, etc.