How to become a Nanny
The roles and responsibilities of a Nanny will vary based on the needs of your employer. Overall though, a Nanny will become an adult authority figure in the absence of parents.
The position of Nanny is much more than a glorified babysitter. A Nanny plays a significant role in the life and upbringing of children. In many cases, a Nanny will be considered a member of the family.
The skills, knowledge and experience will determine how much responsibility a nanny can take on, from working alongside the parent, to having full sole charge of the children. In complex households, a senior nanny may even manage junior staff.
Day to Day Tasks
Typical duties that fall under the remit of a Nanny include:
- Bathing, dressing, and feeding children, including the preparation of nutritious meals
- Entertaining children in a safe, welcoming environment
- Educating children – aiding with homework, reading stories or playing educational games
- Driving children to school and extracurricular activities, chaperoning if necessary
- Light housekeeping, especially pertaining to children (i.e., tidying bedrooms, making beds, and cleaning up after meals and activities)
As discussed, these duties are just a guideline. Every employer will have different needs and expectations of a Nanny.
Salary & Working Hours
The working hours and salary of a Nanny depend on whether you are live-in or live-out. A live-in Nanny will be provided with accommodation in the home of the family. At the very least, this should be a bedroom and a private bathroom.
A live-in Nanny will receive a lower salary in exchange for this accommodation. A live-in Nanny will usually work around 12 hours a day, Monday to Friday, and will likely provide additional care one or two evenings a week.
A live-out Nanny will agree to a set working pattern, typically around 10 hours a day, Monday to Friday. A live-out Nanny will commute to a family home to start a working day and leave at a set time.
Of course, things may not always work this way and having a degree of flexibility is useful. Working parents who require a Nanny may not always return home and relieve their employee at the agreed time. Nannies should be clear about boundaries and at what point additional fees are incurred.
The national average salary for a live-out Nanny in the UK is around £30,000, although this salary will depend on a range of factors. These include location, number of children being cared for, and additional duties. Naturally, experience and qualifications will also play a part in the salary you can expect to command.
Required Qualifications
There are no legal qualifications required to work as a Nanny in the UK. However you will stand a much better chance of finding work, and for it to be better paid if you have completed formal training. We run an NCFE CACHE course that is particularly suited to those who want to become a nanny – this is the Level 3 Award in Home Based Childcare (nanny route).
Alternatively, you may want to consider the Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Education and Care – Early Years Educator which is very comprehensive and will give you options to working in both private households and early years settings.
OFSTED registration is voluntary for nannies, but being registered not only gives you more credibility, it also allows clients to use childcare vouchers to pay for your services. To get onto the register you will need to complete the Common Core of Skills and Knowledge training or a level 2 childcare qualification, along with a clean DBS and a Paediatric First Aid certificate.
Career Progression
Many Nannies remain with an employer until their services are no longer required. However, the skills gained working as a Nanny could be transferred to other roles, such as Matron or House Mistress for a boarding school.
