· A49 ·
objectives and methods well understood and accepted.
.In this
sector it was the details of operation that had had to be reviewed
to see in what ways the service might be improved. In spite of this ·
difference it was decided to integrate the presentation since the two
services were clearly interdependent and should not be considered in
isolation.
32.
The Green Paper was primarily concerned with services to
children in the age range 3 to 5 years (the pre-primary group) and
6 to 11 years (the primary group). Certain aspects of the care of
2-year-olds were considered but services to children below the age
of 2 were disregarded as these very young children required services
of a different order.
33.
The principal conclusions and proposals of the Green Paver
are set out below :
(1) No kindergarten should operate for more than 4
hours a day. If an institution operates for more
than 4 hours a day
or provides lunch facilities
it then becomes a child care centre.
-
(2) A Standing Committee should be established to coordinate
pre-primary activities of the Education Department and the
Social Welfare Department.
(3) Fostering is preferred 'to full time residential care,
but the latter, when required, should provide a home-like
atmosphere with children catered for in small groups.
(4) (a) the age of entry to kindergarten should be 3 years
8 months or above;
(b) the length of a kindergarten course should be not
more than 2 years;
(c) (a) and (b) should be implemented over a 4 year
period commencing September 1981.