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Except for 22 cases of Chicken Pox at one of the nurseries, and a considerable number
of short illnesses caused by colds, there was little infectious disease among the nursery
children. There was one case of Dysentery in one nursery and 7 In another, the fact that no
further cases occurred reflects considerable credit on the day nursery staff.
In March 1953, the Council introduced a new scale of charges for the children in the
day nurseries. The uniform charge of 2/6d per day was replaced by an assessment scale by
which the daily charge was fixed between 2/6d and 8/- per day according to the family
circumstances. Provision was made for these circumstances to be reviewed at 3 monthly intervals.
At the time when the changes were introduced the number of children on the day nursery
registers were as followss Litchfield Avenue 53, Plaistow Road 48, Liverpool Road 46.
Immediately following the introduction of charges these numbers dropped to 38, 30 and 27
respectively. The lowest figures reached were 38, 23 and 13, and at the end of the year the
numbers on the register were 43, 25 and 17.
The day nursery at Cumberland Road, which is under the auspices of the Canning Town
Women's Settlement, has provided places for up to 30 children throughout the year.
There is only one child minder registered under the Act, and as In the previous year
she has taken a foster child and has not availed herself of the authority to receive children
for daily minding.
Convalescence:

As In previous years the administrative arrangements for convalescence have been in the
capable hands of the West Ham Branch of the Invalid Children's Aid Association. A number of
different homes have been used for the unaccompanied children, the mothers with children have
been sent mainly to one particular home, but on occasion other homes have been used.
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