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29
Nurseries and Child Minders Regulation Aot 1948
The Borough Council is responsible under this Act for registration
of private day nurseries and daily minders. Registration under this Act has
increased during the year and at the end of the year 31 nurseries provided
a total of 673 places, and 39 daily minders 245 places. These figures represent
a considerable increase, especially morning playgroups, and because of this
and in view of the national interest in child minding, it was decided to
provide some instruction on the day care of children. A course of twelve
lectures was arranged in collaboration with the Education Department to cover
such subjects as General Care and Home Safety, the Development of the Child,
Nutrition and Menus, Psychological Problems, Value and Different Types of
Flay, and the Organisation of Playgroups.
It was originally hoped to enrol 24 students but the response was
such that we had to admit 30 to the course which began on 15th September, and
start a second course on 10th October which catered for a further 20 students.
The attendance was good and a third course is to start in January 1968. The
superintendent health visitor has acted as course tutor and the lecturers
have been drawn from the health department and Gypsy Hill Training College.
It is hoped that in the next academic year it will be possible to
provide longer courses of twenty lectures in response to suggestions from
this year's students.
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 1967
the Council accepted financial responsibility for 32 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.