NURSERY PLAY CENTRES

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28440, 21 November 1957, Page 2

NURSERY PLAY CENTRES

Annual Meeting Of Association Twenty-six centres were affiliated to the Christchurch Nursery Play Centres’ Association, and they provided play experience in small groups for about 923 children from two years and a half to five years old, said the president (Mrs E. B. Dalmer) when presenting her report to the annual meeting of the association last evening. The number of centres was lower than that recorded last year, because in May. 1957, seven centres in the Buller area formed their own association, Mrs Dalmer said. “This is the second time in the history of the association that a group of its centres has formed an association. Dunedin centres were attached to this association for a short period early in their history. In the space of 16 years the association has grown from one association with three centres to three associations with at least 43 centres,” said Mrs Dalmer.

“It is hoped that new groups will be formed in Christchurch to take part in this community service.” Mrs Dalmer said. “Signs of growth are evident, and the rolls in the majority of centres show large increases. In some cases these have been embarrassingly large, anti centres have been obliged to give serious consideration to ways of ensuring that they continue to offer to the young child one of the basic benefits of the nursery play centre—that of making his first contacts outside the home in the sympathetic atmosphere of a small play group with the understanding support of his mother.”

New Housing Areas One way to relieve pressure on well-established centres was to form new groups offering a similar service nearer home. Lack of suitable premises and community buildings had been felt, particularly in new housing areas, where young families were in the majority. Help with preliminary planning had been given during the year to three groups, and next year new nursery play centres should open in some areas where they were badly needed. The sum of £119.1 was received during the year from the Education Department, and £lO9 from the Department of Internal Affairs, Mrs Dalmer said. The greater part of these amounts was promptly disbursed by the committee of management to individual centres.

“An annual grant in cash, while it represents only a small proportion of a centre’s running expenses, affords welcome help with increased costs of wages, rent and play equipment, and serves as a tangible reminder of the Education Department’s recognition of nursery play centres ar a preschool service,” said Mrs Dalmer. A gift of £75 had been received from the McKenzie Trust, and had been used to purchase a projector, screen, film strips, and slides. Three general meetings of the association had been held during the year, said Mrs Dalmer.