ABSTRACT
Of all residential institutions for children, residential nurseries have probably been the most widely criticised in recent years. For older children group care has always been seen to have some positive aspects; indeed, in England many of those who can afford it send their sons to boarding school from the age of eight. The children were always read to at least once a day. Shopping expeditions, excursions, car and bus rides, and occasional weekend visits to the homes of staff members were arranged. All these changes were made with the aim of making the child's experiences in a residential nursery more like those he would have had in an ordinary family. Despite many similarities, there were important differences between the nurseries in social organisation. In all the nurseries the staff were similarly trained, and had a similar education and social background.
