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24
DAY CARE OF CHILDREN
DAY NURSERIES
Day nurseries are primarily for children whose mothers are unable to care
for them for reasons of illness or confinement, and where alternative provision
cannot be made, or whose mothers, who are the sole support of their children,
must go to work. In addition children are also admitted for certain medical
reasons e.g. sub-normality and loss of hearing.
This scheme is of immense value both in giving the children regular social
training in feeding habits, regular play and rest periods, and contact with
other children, and in giving relief for one or two days each week to those
mothers for whom the care of a retarded child at home can become an intolerable
situation. These children require constant supervision and careful management,
and although normally a somewhat higher ratio of staff is allowed, it is only
possible to have a few in each nursery where the places are used for those in
whom some developmental and behavioural improvement can be hoped for. A special
care unit is available to cater for those so severely handicapped that normal
education is not anticipated.
The modernisation of Sun Babies Day Nursery was completed and the premises
re-occupied in July. The nursery presents a much lighter and more cheerful
appearance and is now more suited to its purpose.
CRECHES
These sessions, held in four of the Council's maternity and child welfare
centres, provide an important and valuable addition to the day care of children.
Children are admitted free if their mothers are either attending the clinic or
have a hospital appointment, but in other cases a small charge is made. The
children attend for one, two or three sessions weekly and in this way a greater
number of children are able to benefit. More creche facilities could be used
with advantage if premises and staff were available.

VOLUNTARY CHILD MINDING
The scheme of voluntary registration by this Authority for minding one or
two children has been carried on during the year, and the registration fee is
6/- per week to each minder. This is a way of ensuring that there are some
reliable women to whom mothers needing their child minded may be referred.
These minders' homes are visited regularly by health visitors, and the children
are taken to the welfare centres. At 31st December 1966, there were 37 voluntary
child minders, and 39 children were being minded.