Nurseries and Child-Minders Regulation Act 1948

JurisdictionUK Non-devolved
Citation1948 c. 53


Nurseries and Child-Minders Regulation Act, 1948

(11 & 12 Geo. 6.) CHAPTER 53.

An Act to provide for the regulation of certain nurseries and of persons who for reward receive children into their homes to look after them; and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid.

[30th July 1948]

Be it enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

S-1 Registration of nurseries and childminders.

1 Registration of nurseries and childminders.

(1) Every local health authority shall keep registers—

(a ) of premises in their area, other than premises wholly or mainly used as private dwellings, where children are received to be looked after for the day or a substantial part thereof or for any longer period not exceeding six days;

(b ) of persons in their area who for reward receive into their homes children under the age of five to be looked after as aforesaid.

The registers kept under this subsection shall be open to inspection at all reasonable times.

(2) Any person receiving or proposing to receive children as mentioned in paragraph (a ) or (b ) of the foregoing subsection may make application to the local health authority for registration thereunder, and on receipt of such an application the local health authority shall, subject to the provisions of this section, register the premises to which or person to whom the application relates.

(3) The local health authority may by order refuse to register any premises if they are satisfied that any person employed or proposed to be employed in looking after children at the premises is not a fit person to look after children, or, where the premises were not at the commencement of this Act in use for the reception of children as mentioned in paragraph (a ) of subsection (1) of this section, if the local authority are satisfied that the premises are not fit to be used for that purpose.

(4) The local health authority may by order refuse to register any person if they are satisfied that that person, or any person employed or proposed to be employed by him in looking after children, is not a fit person to look after children or that the premises in which the children are received or proposed to be received are not fit (whether because of the condition thereof or for any reason connected with other persons therein) to be used for the purpose.

S-2 Power to impose requirements in connection with registration.

2 Power to impose requirements in connection with registration.

(1) The local health authority may by order require that no greater number of children shall be received in premises registered under the foregoing section than may be specified in the order.

(2) The local health authority may by order require in the case of a person registered under the foregoing section that the number of children received in his home as mentioned in paragraph (b ) of subsection (1) of that section, together with any other children in his home, shall not at any time exceed such number as may be specified in the order.

(3) The local health authority may by order made as respects any premises or person registered under the foregoing section require the taking of precautions against the exposure of the children received in the premises to infectious diseases.

(4) The local health authority may by order made as respects any premises registered under the foregoing section impose requirements for securing—

(a ) that a person with such qualifications as may be specified by the authority shall be in charge of the premises and of the persons employed thereat;

(b ) that the premises shall be adequately staffed, both as respects the number and as respects the qualifications or experience of the persons employed thereat, and adequately equipped;

(c ) in the case of premises which at the commencement of this Act were in use for the reception of children as mentioned in paragraph (a ) of subsection (1) of section one of this Act, that such repairs shall be carried out on the premises, or such alterations thereof or additions thereto shall be made, as may be specified in the order;

(d ) that the premises and the equipment thereof shall be adequately maintained;

(e ) that there shall be adequate arrangements for feeding the children received in the premises and that an adequate and suitable diet shall be provided for them;

(f ) that the children received in the premises shall be under medical supervision;

(g ) that records shall be kept in relation to the children received at the premises containing such particulars as may be specified by the authority.

(5) An order under paragraph (c ) of the last foregoing subsection may be made either on registration or at any time within one month thereafter, and any other order under this section may be made either on registration or at any subsequent time.

(6) An order under this section may be varied or revoked by a subsequent order of the local health authority.

(7) In the case of premises which at the commencement of this Act were in use for the reception of children as mentioned in paragraph (a ) of subsection (1) of section one of this Act, no requirement shall be imposed under paragraphs (a ) to (c ) of subsection (4) of this section so as to require anything to be done before the expiration of a reasonable time from the commencement of this Act.

S-3 Certificates of registration.

3 Certificates of registration.

(1) The local Health authority shall issue certificates of registration under section one of this Act, and any such certificate shall specify the situation of the premises to which, or the name and address of the person to whom, the registration relates and any requirements imposed under the last foregoing section.

(2) On any change occurring in the circumstances particulars of which are stated in a certificate issued under this section, the local health authority shall issue an amended certificate.

(3) Where the local health authority are satisfied that any certificate under this section has been lost or destroyed, the authority shall, on payment of such fee (if any) not exceeding two shillings and sixpence as the authority may determine, issue a copy of the certificate.

S-4 Penalties for failure to register and for breach of requirements under section two.

4 Penalties for failure to register and for breach of requirements under section two.

(1) If at any time after the expiration of three months from the commencement of this Act a child is received in any premises as mentioned in paragraph (a of section one of this Act and the premises are not registered under that section or any requirement imposed under section two of this Act is contravened or not complied with, the occupier of the premises shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) Where at any such time as aforesaid a person receives as mentioned in paragraph (b ) of subsection (1) of section one of this Act...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT