Day centre visited

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33874, 20 June 1975, Page 14

Day centre visited

Lady Scott, wife of the British High Commissioner to New Zealand (Sir David Scott) and vice-president of Dr ißarnardo’s in New Zealand, made her first 'official visit to the; organisation’s day-care centre in Ensors Road, yesterday, ’! With her son Andrew. Lady ! Scott spent about 30 minutes i talking and playing with the (children at the centre and Hooking over the facilities. L,ady Scott said she had! | always been interested in the I type of work Dr Barnardo’s; ;did and became involved with i them almost as soon as she I arrived in New Zealand, about two years and a halfl ago. She was in Christchurch for the opening of the centre' by the Minister of Social Welfare (Mr King) on March 25. 1

' but decided that on her next . visit to Christchurch she would make a proper visit to: the centre. As she is here with her husband on business ' the visit was arranged and; . Lady Scott said she was delighted to see the centre in J full operation. UNDER STRESS Most of the children come ■ from “families under stress" — those who have financial,; marital, or health problems. | As well children waiting for I places at kindergartens or! only children needing company are accepted if places are available. | Children in the centre at; i present range from a one-|year-old to a little girl of! ■ four years and a half. ' The building is leased from i I the Christchurch City CounIcH by Dr Barnardo’s. It is on ■ 171 perches of ground. The children are accommodated in two separate play i 'rooms, where toys, building-1 ' blocks, play dough, jig-saw! puzzles and books are avail- . 'able. Two kindergarten teach-

ters, a day-care supervisor, a ' Karitane nurse, a cook, and a I I social worker are employed. I The centre opens on stag- ! gered hours depending on the ; 'needs of the children attend-1 ing it. If a child is ready to ! begin at 9 a.m. the centre is | open to him then. A main; meal is provided during the day. Dr Barnardo’s day-care! centre in Ensors Road is the! I first in the South Island and! 'the second in New Zealand ! | The other is in Mangere, : Auckland. 30 ON ROLL The Christchurch centre ; can take a maximum of 25 pre-school children, on a non- | residential basis at one time, although there are about 30 | children on the roll. This means different children can ■ attend on different days of the week. The Mangere centre is run lon the same basis but can i take a maximum of 42 child- ! ren and is much bigger. It has !been running since April, 1972.