Durham E-Theses THE PROVISION OF NURSERY EDUCATION IN ENGLAND AND WALES TO 1967 WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO NORTH - EAST ENGLAND BELL, JOHN,ROBERT How to cite: BELL, JOHN,ROBERT (2011) THE PROVISION OF NURSERY EDUCATION IN ENGLAND AND WALES TO 1967 WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO NORTH - EAST ENGLAND, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/1401/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 THE PROVISION OF NURSERY EDUCATION IN ENGLAND AND WALES TO 1967 WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO NORTH - EAST ENGLAND A thesis submitted by John Robert Bell in the School of Education of the University of Durham for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy 2011 Abstract ‘The Provision of Nursery Education in England and Wales to 1967 with special reference to North- East England’ by John R. Bell The startling title of the Nursery School Association’s ‘Forgotten Two Millions’ (1965) stimulated a determination to trace the origins of this tragedy, and to ascertain the historical struggle involved, both nationally and in my home region of North East England. NSA publications and records of voluntary bodies together with local and national archives helped trace the growth and activities of the nursery school movement from 1923 and, together with the Tyneside Nursery School Association, gave an unbiased account of pioneering work in the region. Material was analysed, described, and evaluated, to explore inherent strength and weaknesses. Theory and practice of prominent educators and thinkers was examined to appraise the attention given to the ‘under fives’ and to concepts of childhood. The progression of the changing role of women in society, changing social and economic conditions in the 19th and 20th centuries and the pioneering work of enlightened philanthropic individuals demonstrated that early years education never existed in a vacuum. The slow ‘stop’/’start’ growth in provision, however, was shown to have reflected the state of local and national finance and, indeed, can still be seen today. Seven nursery schools in contrasting areas of industrial heritage of the North East were chosen as example case-studies, spread over a period of 30 turbulent years. The first was established during WW1 clearly in the vanguard with the McMillans and before the government legislation of 1918. Two were war-time nurseries and illustrated the emergency measures set up in 1942 to provide an essential service for mothers engaged in war work. All provided source material in their chronological, educational histories. The Plowden Report offered a new hope for the future. Any subsequent developments in the care and nurture of ‘under fives’ would therefore depend on the Government‘s political will, its financial allocations and socio-economic challenges, again seen today in the current climate. It is suggested that present day or future participants in any initiative on behalf of the ‘under fives’ may gain inspiration from this research or similar regional studies. CONTENTS Page Lists of Maps, Graphs, Photographs,Table i Abbreviations ii,iii Introduction 1 Chapter 1 Early theory and practice concerning under fives leading to 7 national provision 2 Social, economic and political concerns leading to improved 58 living conditions and the changing role of women 3 Provision for under fives up to 1939 : 83 The Nursery School Association : The Tyneside Nursery School Association 4 Selected Case Studies : 150 George Dent Nursery School, Darlington : 151 Bensham Grove Nursery School, Gateshead : 197 New Brancepeth Nursery School. Co.Durham : 235 Howdon Road and Sir James Knott, N.S,North Shields 268 5 Nursery Provision in the War Years : 291 Framwellgate and Gilesgate Nursery Schools, Durham 327 6 Post War Nursery provision up to Plowden (1967) 343 Conclusion 368 Appendices 1.Mr.Coffin’s witness statement to Consultative Committee,1908 377 2.Grace Owen’s witness statement to Consultative Committee,1908 378 3.Visit of Mrs.Astor & Dr.Campbell to Mitre Nursery,Stepney,1914 379 4.Official description of ’Model Nursery School’,PRO Ed.102/1 380 5.Board of Education Regulations for Nursery Schools,1918 381 6.‘Curriculum’ for Nursery Schools, Board of Education,1918 383 7.‘An Appeal to Candidates and Electors of ALL parties’,Jan.1929 384 8. Memo.on value to Darlington College of George Dent N.S. 385 9.The setting up of the Durham Council of Social Service 386 10.Lady Gainford’s letter to ‘The Times’, August 27th,1937 387 11.Journalist’s Impressions at opening of New Brancepeth Nursery 388 12.Lady Astor’s Appeal for Nursery Schools, October 19th,1933 390 13.Extracts from letters to local newspapers,1934 391 14.‘The Case for Nursery Schools’, by Grace Owen,March 9th,1935 393 15.Durham County Post-war Plan (with summary table) 395 Bibliography 398 i List of Illustrations Maps Page(s) 1) Map showing distribution of Nursery Schools in England and Wales in 1926 146 2) Map showing distribution of Nursery Schools in England and Wales in 1939 147 3) Maps showing distribution of Nursery Schools in North East England in 1926 and 1939 149 Graphs 1) Graph to show annual increase in number of nursery schools between 1925 and 1939. 148 2) Graph to show increase in number of places for Children in Nursery Schools between 1925 and 1939. 148 Photographs 1) George Dent Nursery School, Darlington 172 2) Bensham Grove Nursery School, Gateshead 208,233 3) New Brancepeth Nursery School, Co. Durham 249,264 4) Howdon Road Nursery School and 276,282 Sir James Knott Nursery School, North Shields 282 5) Gilesgate and 334 Framwellgate Nursery Schools, Durham 336,340 Table 1) Durham Development Plan (1949) 397 ii Abbreviations BAECE British Association for Early Childhood Education Bd.of Ed. Board of Education B&FSS British and Foreign School Society BFUW British Federation of University Women BFWG British Federation of Women Graduates BJS British Journal of Sociology BMA British Medical Association CMO Chief Medical Officer Dar.Ed.Com. Darlington Education Committee Dar.Lib. Darlington Library DCC Durham County Council DCEC Durham County Education Committee D.City Ed.Com. Durham City Education Committee D.City Lib. Durham City Library DCSC Durham Community Service Council DES Department of Education and Science DOSA Darlington Old Students Association DRDC Durham Rural District Council DRO Durham Records Office DTC Darlington Training College EOAN Emergency Open-air Nursery GDNS George Dent Nursery School GTC Gateshead Town Council GRL Gateshead Reference Library Hist.of Ed. History of Education H.C.Deb. House of Commons Debate H.L.Deb. House of Lords Debate HMI Her/His Majesty’s Inspector HMSO Her/His Majesty’s Stationery Office HOSSA Home Office Social Service Association HRNS Howdon Road Nursery School HRO Hertfordshire Records Office Intro.Mem. Introductory Memorandum ILP Independent Labour Party JEAH Journal of Educational Administration and History LA Local Authority LEA Local Education Authority LCC London County Council LSE Lib. Library of the School of Political and Economic Science, (London School of Economics) M&CW Maternity and Child Welfare Min.Ed. Ministry of Education Min.Hlth. Ministry of Health MOH Medical Officer of Health MP Member of Parliament Nat.Soc. National Society iii NBNS New Brancepeth Nursery School NCSS National Council for Social Service NCW National Council of Women NFF National Froebel Foundation NSA Nursery School Association NSCN National Society of Children’s Nurseries NSNS North Shields Nursery School NSLSC North Shields Local Studies Centre NSPCC National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children NUT National Union of Teachers NUWT National Union of Women Teachers PEP Political and Economic Planning PRO. Public Records Office Rep.Cons. Con. Report of Consultative Committee SCF Save the Children Fund SMO School Medical Officer SPCK Society for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge TES Times Educational Supplement TNSA Tyneside Nursery School Association TWAS Tyne and Wear Archive Service VCH Victoria County History WHO World Health Organisation WUSC Women’s United Services Club WW1/WW2 World War1/World War 2 STATEMENT OF COPYRIGHT “ The copyright of this thesis rests with the author. No quotation from it should be published without the prior written consent and information derived from it should be acknowledged.” ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My sincere thanks go to my supervisors Professor Lynn Newton and Dr. Martin Richardson for bearing with my frailties, guiding the progress of my research and encouraging me to complete this work. I am also grateful for the forbearance and support of my family who have attempted to instruct me in the wizardry of new technology and who trusted my perseverance to pursue this long-time interest in ‘forgotten children’ 1 Introduction The publication of the Nursery School Association’s ‘Forgotten Two million’1in 1965 aroused feelings of injustice which I felt should be aired in an exploration of the history of provision for these ‘forgotten under-fives’, especially in the North East of England – an area well known to me for its extreme economic deprivation. Such a study has not previously been undertaken. These ‘Forgotten Children’2 reinforced the lowly place and lack of concern for children in former societies.