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In the 1920s, the league opened a day nursery and operated the only stereotyping machine in the western United States to mass-produce metal Braille plates for the blind.

Plans for the church hall, on Glebe Way, included a cafe, day nursery building, replacement rectory with detached garage, two outbuildings to provide a prayer room and substation, and bike storage.

"Private day nurseries were the most expensive, charging an average of £44 a day, whilst sessional care and out of school care offered lower daily rates," said the department's review.

Founded more than 100 years ago as a day nursery, the agency brought the federal Head Start child development program to the West Coast and became a national leader in addressing child abuse and neglect.

There are 344 day nurseries in Northern Ireland, about 80% of which are private businesses, according to the Early Years Organisation.