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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 are only two child minders on the statutory register, neither of whom received
any children during the year,
WELFARE FOODS.
The distribution of Welfare Foods from the Child Welfare Centres, the Public Hall,
Canning Town, and the local W.V.S. Headquarters has continued throughout the year.
Owing to the very small uptake from the Silvertown Library Premises, distribution
from this Centre was no longer made after 23rd June, 1955. In order to assist the
residents in the south of the Borough a further distribution centre at the Rosetta Road
Clinic was opened on the 15th June, 1955.
CONVALESCENCE.
The following are the numbers of mothers and children sent for recuperative holidays
during 1955:-
Unaccompanied children under 5 years 35
Mothers with Children 32
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The number of unaccompanied children is almost the same as in the previous year, but
there were seven more mothers with children.
The generally accepted policy of avoiding the separation of mothers from their
young children, when either is in need of a recuperative holiday, has been implemented
to a greater extent this year. This has been made possible because the Council has been
able to use the facilities offered in the holiday homes administered by two other Local
Authorities. These two homes have given excellent service, not only in providing holiday
facilities, but also in giving guidance to the mothers in the understanding and management
of their children.
Once again the administrative arrangements for convalescence have been in the
capable hands of the West Ham Branch of the Invalid Children's Aid Association.
LIAISON WITH CHILDREN'S OFFICER.
Close and friendly co-operation is maintained with the Children's Officer and many
problems relating to the care of deprived children are discussed by the staff of the two
departments.
Occasional meetings to consider problems related to children neglected or illtreated
in their own homes are convened, as necessary, by the Children's Officer. The
Medical Officer of Health has taken the chair at these meetings which have been well
attended by officers of the departments concerned, and by representatives of other
official and voluntary organisations.
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