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49
Notification of Births
Notifications were received during the year of 62,462 live and 1,255 stillbirths.
These are of actual births occurring in the county and have not been corrected
according to the place of residence of the parents. The corrected figures (based on
births registered) are used for the vital statistics (page 4). It is interesting to
note that 5,471 of the births notified were to women residing outside the county.
Day nurseries, cr'cches and nursery play centres
During the year two day nurseries were opened to replace existing nurseries
which had to close because the premises were no longer available for day nursery
purposes. The number of places provided in day nurseries, including creches, was
6,615 and on 31st December, 1949, there were 9,549 children, of whom 4,797 were
in priority categories, on the waiting list. The demand for day nursery facilities
continued at high pressure and the Council's scheme of priorities for admission to
day nurseries remained in operation.
The comparatively high cost of maintaining a child in a day nursery caused
concern, and attempts were made to effect economies. Instructions were issued as
to economical ordering of supplies and preparation of meeds. Standards of equipment,
toys and play material and clothing are being evolved, and enquiries are
being pursued into staffing and laundry costs in day nurseries. Revised instructions
for the exclusion from day nurseries of children suffering from, or in contact with,
infectious disease are in the course of preparation. A considerable number of
unlawful entries were made into day nursery premises, and a survey was carried
out to determine the most satisfactory method of precaution against burglaries.
A small increase in nursery play centre facilities was made during the year.
Nurseries and Child-Minders Regulation Act, 1948
The full effect of this Act was felt during 1949, and the growth in number of
persons and nurseries registered is shown in the table below.
Persons (other than relatives) who, for reward, look after, during the day, more
than two children under the age of five years, from different households, are required
under the Act to register as child-minders with the Council.
Child-minders who are not statutorily registrable under the Act, may
voluntarily register with the Council. They then become subject to inspection and
may be recommended to mothers who apply to have their children minded during
the day.
The number of child-minders both statutorily and voluntarily registered, and
the number of private day nurseries statutorily registered on 31st December, 1949,
together with the number of children looked after, are given in the following table.

One appeal against the Council's decision to refuse an application for registration
under the Act of a person as a child-minder was made to a court of summary
jurisdiction, and was allowed — subject to certain conditions, which were acceptable
to the Council. Apart from this instance, the administration of the Nurseries
and Child-Minders Regulation Act proceeded smoothly.