KINDERGARTEN PLANNING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23273, 16 February 1939, Page 5

KINDERGARTEN PLANNING

CENTRE IN MELBOURNE MODERN TYPE EQUIPMENT Work will begin soon on the erection in Melbourne of the first model demonstration centre for pre-school child development under the Commonwealth Government's programme of education. The centre will be situated at Carlton on land facing Curtain Square, made available by the Melbourne City Council. The building is designed to accommodate 100 children and a staff of teachers. Among the interesting points in the plan is the amount of window space in the throe large nurseries, which accommodate respectively the two-year-olds, the three-year-olds and the four-year-olds. All have a north-east aspect. Another step forward in the architecture of the kindergarten is the provision of observation booths from which students and others will watch the children at; play and work without themselves being seem by the children. The dining room will seat 40 older children, and all meals will be prepared in the kitchen adjoining, which is equipped with the most modern dovices. Immediately, adjacent to _the front entrance is a medical unit, where morning health inspections and regular medical and dental examinations will be made. Suspicions cases will be isolated in a special room before diagnosis, after which they may be sent home for treatment. The nursery equipment will be specially designed on the basis of research findings and child needs, and careful study will be given to the use of colour and other appropriate decoration. The building will be centrally heated.