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51
Attendances for the first quarter of the year in all the nurseries
were considerably above those for the same period in 1943.
The numbers then began to decline as air raids increased, and,
first, privately arranged, and, later, Government evacuation took
many children out of London. During the last quarter of the
year the attendances had reached the figures for the same period
of 1943 in only two of the nurseries.
In August 1944, at the request of the Ministry of Health, a
survey of the attendances of children at the nurseries was carried
out to find out whether any nursery could be closed and the staff
spared for work in reception areas. A number of the staff volunteered
for evacuation work, but at no time were the attendances
sufficiently low to justify closure of any of the nurseries.
In addition to the effects of air raids and evacuation on the
work of the nurseries, the supply of toys was also affected. The
civil defence depots and school woodwork classes were unable to
continue their valuable help. The initial toy allowance per child
was also reduced, in accordance with a circular of the Ministry of
Health. The formation of the London Toy- Committee provided
material for making and repairing toys, and the nursery teachers
were able to avail themselves of this, as a woodwork room and
tools were provided for their use in one of the schools, by cooperation
with the Director of Education.
Health of Children in Nurseries.
The majority of children attending the nurseries improved
noticeably in general health after the first- four to eight weeks of
attendance.
A good standard of health has been maintained throughout
the year. This would seem to be closely related to the provision of
suitable surroundings designed to provide the optimum environment
for large groups of young children. No reconverted
premises have been used. The value of adequate space, warmth,
light and sanitation is increased at the present time because of
the overcrowded, unsatisfactory conditions in the homes of many of
the children who attend the nurseries.
The danger from spread of infection does not appear to be
greater than that for children of the same age group in the district
generally. At no time has it been considered necessary to close a
nursery for an outbreak of infection.