Hello Tony, From personal experience researching the Poplar Union Workhouse records I have found that for my family the father was admitted on several occasions while the wife remained at home with the youngest children (2 & 3 years old) and the oldest (12 to 17 years) with three children aged 5, 7 & 9 also admitted and transferred the the Poplar Union childrens home. These admissions lasted for between one three weeks at a time. The eldest were obviously bringing in a wage to the household and probably the youngest would be considered to require extra care in a childrens home while the mid range children would receive education and be old enough to look after themselves within the confines of the childrens home to some extent. No doubt the Board of Guardians were extremely pragmatic where the finances were concerned and the most financially efficient solution was accepted in each case considered! Researching these records is fascinating and opened a new vista for me on the social conditions existing at the end of the 19th and start of the 20th centuries. Gordon Hampshire