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There were no daily minders receiving fees from the authority at the end of the
year.
Playgroups (Pre School)
In all parts of the country the desirability of providing facilities for children 2-5
years is recognised.
Included in the total numbers of registered daily minders and day nurseries are
91 playgroups offering 1,872 places for morning sessions. Enquiries are received regularly
by people interested in starting new groups and encouragement and advice are
given. Although the need is apparent it is essential that the leaders of these groups
should be suitably qualified and the aim is to raise the present standards. Richmond
Adult Institute have two courses for playgroup leaders, one introductory course and a
more comprehensive three-term course. These courses are run with close co-operation
from the Health Department and lectures are given by members of staff. Visits of
observation have been arranged to selected playgroups in the Borough for playgroup
leaders as well as for students on the courses.
Local Authority Day Nurseries
The three day nurseries in the Borough offer 148 places. The circumstances governing
admissions to the day nurseries may be social, medical or financial. Priority is
given to children from deprived home backgrounds. Sixty-six per cent of children
attending are from single parent families, either the children of unmarried mothers or
broken marriages. In some cases the day nursery place has been able to prevent the
necessity of taking children into care. There is great pressure on Parkshot and Gifford
Lodge and they usually carry a waiting list of several months. Demand at Barnes has
been less and if some means of transport could be provided for the children the load
could be more evenly distributed. Many students in the field of education, social work,
child care as well as health visitor students, have visited nurseries to observe child
development and day care.
Mayoral Visits
All three day nurseries were visited at Christmas time by the Mayor and Mayoress,
Councillor and Mrs. Lewis Miller, visits which were greatly appreciated.
Welfare Foods
The Council is responsible for the distribution of welfare foods (National Dried
Milk, cod liver oil, fruit juices, etc.) supplied by the Department of Health and Social
Security.
In addition various proprietary brands of dried milk and dietary supplements are
sold at the child health clinics on the recommendation of the medical officers, health
visitors or family doctors. I gratefully acknowledge the work of all voluntary helpers.
Cervical Cytology (Well Woman Clinics)
This service expanded during the year from six sessions per fortnight to thirteen
sessions per fortnight. These sessions are held at seven clinics in the Borough and 1,290
women made 1,326 attendances. Six women had positive smear tests. All were referred
to their personal medical attendant for further investigation.
Despite this expansion not many women in age groups at greatest risk of developing
cervical cancer are coming forward for examination and health education efforts
are constantly being made to improve this situation.
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