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HONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1975.
CHILDREN CARED FOR IN THE NURSERY ARE DIVIDED INTO THREE GROUPS ACCORDING TO THEIR AGE AND ABILITY.
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IN ADDITION, A FAMILY RGOUP IS FORMED EVERY DAY WITH 12 CHILDREN SELECTED FROM DIFFERENT GROUPS TO MIX TOGETHER. THIS PROVIDES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD UP RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER CHILDREN.
OTHER ACTIVITIES OF THE NURSERY INCLUDE A SUMMER PROGRAMME FOR CHILDREN ABOUT TO ENTER KINDERGARTEN TO PREPARE THEM FOR SCHOOL LIFE. THE COURSE, STARTED TWO YEARS AGO, IS HELD FROM MAY TO AUGUST EVERY YEAR, USUALLY WITH TWO OR THREE GROUPS OF TEN CHILDREN EACH.
READING AND WRITING ART WORK AND VARIOUS SKILLS ARE TAUGHT DURING THE COURSE, AND STAFF OF THE NURSERY ALSO HELP CHILDREN TO ADJUST TO THE DISCIPLINE REQUIRED IN SCHOOLS, MRS, NGAI SAID.
AT PRESENT THE NURSERY PROVIDES DAY CARE FOR 80 - 100 CHILDREN WITHIN THE TWO TO FIVE AGE LIMIT. +WE DO NOT OFFER NIGHT SERVICE BECAUSE NURSERY CARE SHOULD ONLY SUPPLEMENT AND NOT SUBSTITUTE MATERNAL LOVE. CHILDREN MUST BE GIVEN AMPLE TIME TO ESTABLISH GOOD FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS,+ MRS. NGAI STRESSED.
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AT A MONTHLY CHARGE OF $35, THE CHILDREN ARE GIVEN THREE MEALS A DAY COMPRISING BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND SNACKS, THE QUANTITY OF WHICH IS FIXED BY DIETICIANS,
SHE POINTED OUT THAT THE MENUS WERE PLANNED BY NURSERY STAFF WHO TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THE VARYING TASTES OF THE CHILDREN AND, AT THE SAME TIME, ENSURED THAT THE MEALS WERE BOTH NUTRITIOUS AND DELICIOUS.
ON THE QUESTION OF ADMISSION, MRS. NGAI SAID PRIORITY IS BASED ON INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES. CHILDREN OF WORKING PARENTS WERE USUALLY GIVEN FIRST CONSIDERATION.
+DURING THE SCREENING PROCESS, HOME INVESTIGATIONS ARE CONDUCTED TO SEE WHAT THE APPLICANTS' LIVING ENVIRONMENT AND FAMILY RELATIONS ARE LIKE. THROUGH THESE VISITS, PARENTS ALSO GET TO KNOW THE KIND OF CARE PROVIDED AT THE NURSERY AND MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING IS ACHIEVED.→
FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN NURSERY WORK, A ONE-YEAR FULL TIME CERTIFICATE COURSE IN WORK WITH PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN IS PROVIDED AT THE LADY TRENCH DAY NURSERY AND TRAINING CENTRE. AMONG THE FIRST BATCH OF GRADUATES OF THIS COURSE, SOME ARE AT PRESENT SERVING AT THE NURSERY.
THE COURSE INCLUDES DETAIL STUDY OF THE DAY NURSERY IN PARTICULAR, ITS FUNCTIONS AND ITS PHYSICAL SET-UP IN RELATION TO MEETING THE NEEDS OF SMALL CHILDREN IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
/+TRAINEES ARE ALSO