Tag: Childcare

Self-Care

Caring for You, Too: Self-Care in the Early Days of Parenthood

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Caring for You, Too: Self-Care in the Early Days of Parenthood

Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week is a timely reminder that caring for yourself is not optional — it is essential. Whether you’re a new parent, a seasoned carer adjusting to life with your own child, or a practitioner supporting families in the perinatal period, this is your gentle nudge to consider your own needs alongside those of the baby.

Self-care isn’t selfish — it’s survival

There’s a myth that good parents and carers put everyone else first, always. But the truth is, when you pour from an empty cup, it’s everyone who goes thirsty — including you. Feeling burnt out, tearful, touch-starved or overstimulated doesn’t mean you’re failing — it’s a sign your needs have been shelved for too long. And the irony? Meeting those needs makes you more emotionally available, more present, and more resilient for the child who depends on you.

Your essential toolkit: Eat. Move. Rest. Connect.

We often teach that a child’s wellbeing relies on a healthy balance of nourishment, play, sleep and relationships. The same applies to adults — especially in the early days of parenthood.

Eat
Nutrition can take a nosedive when you’re sleep-deprived and managing feeds around the clock. Batch-cook when you can, accept help when it’s offered, and remember: convenience isn’t a sin. A handful of nuts and a banana counts. Hydration is just as important — keep a water bottle close by when breastfeeding, bottle feeding, or just running on fumes.

Move
Forget the gym — this isn’t about crunches or closing rings on a fitness tracker. A short walk with the pram, stretching in your pyjamas, or dancing in the kitchen can all release endorphins, boost circulation, and lift your mood.

Rest
Yes, babies are demanding — but even micro-moments of rest count. Five minutes with your eyes closed. A cuppa drunk while still warm. Saying no to visitors when your instinct says “not today”. Let rest be a boundary, not a luxury.

Connect
Many new parents experience loneliness, even when rarely alone. Peer support — whether from a local baby group, an online forum, or a WhatsApp chat with a fellow mum — can be a lifeline. Speak honestly. Ask for help. Share what’s really going on beneath the polite smile.

Boundaries are brave

As professionals, we often teach parents about routines and limits for children. But what about boundaries for ourselves? It’s okay to say no to guests. To decline unsolicited advice. To choose quiet over chaos. To say: “Not right now — I’m recovering, I’m adjusting, I’m doing my best.”

A word to our learners and community

If you’re a childcare practitioner, maternity nurse or doula — please remember this: your training and compassion don’t make you immune to struggle. You are not failing if the transition into parenthood feels overwhelming. You are not less capable for needing support. In fact, by modelling self-care and honesty, you set a powerful example — for your clients, your children, and yourself.

And if you’re supporting new parents in your work, this week is a reminder to listen without judgment, to notice the signs of emotional strain, and to share resources that may help.

Where to find support

For anyone feeling the weight of this transition, here are a few resources you can turn to or recommend:

  • PANDAS Foundation – Support for pre- and postnatal mental health

  • Mind’s Side by Side – Peer support online community

  • Home-Start UK – Practical and emotional support for families

  • Your local health visitor, GP or perinatal mental health team

In summary…

You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to be on top of everything. You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are, right now. Self-care is not a bubble bath once a month — it’s making room, daily, for the human behind the carer. You matter. And it’s okay to act like it.

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Being a Nanny – the best job ever

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Working as a nanny, though it may have started as a random job, may become something much more serious, fulfilling and fun than you initially expected.

Some people think, or even say, that ‘working at home’ is not really a job that can be turned into a career – is that true?

Is a nanny only a second-best substitute for parents when they are not around?

Or is there anything more to their role?

Listening to stories shared by a great deal of nannies who completed various courses at London School of Childcare Studies it turns out that working as a nanny gives as many opportunities to grow, develop and achieve your career goals as any other job that the market has to offer.

The key questions that you need to ask yourself are:

  • Do you like looking after children?
  • What is your favourite age group?
  • Are you a proactive individual keen on using your creativity on daily basis?
  • Are you comfortable about working in somebody else’s home every day?
  • Finally, are you confident and assertive when it comes to discussing challenging issues with children’s parents?

There are no easy answers to some of those questions.

In particular when dealing with difficult parents or difficult children. But it is before you accept a nanny job offer (usually during your trial period) when you need to observe and learn all about the ‘chemistry’ with the family to decide if it is the right match for you. As long as you have a true passion and love for children and you are convinced that the parents will support you when dealing with difficult situations (tantrums, fights, fussy eaters, discipline issues and many more), the nanny job will give you a sense of real self-fulfilment and sheer joy.

Why?

Because what you do is not about beating sales records, dealing with endlessly pilling-up paperwork in an office or hanging on the phone with not-too-happy customers.

Being a nanny is about sharing love with children when their parents are not at home, being a part of their world and teaching them about truly meaningful things, learning to appreciate their hugs, kisses and cuddles that make your days really special. And there are also career prospects for ambitious nannies who want to become qualified child carers in the private sector – they can or even should expect a pay rise when having gained sufficient experience and completed relevant qualifications. The nanny job allows you to combine two very important elements that everyone expects from their ideal job – emotional satisfaction AND fair financial reward. And that is what makes it the best job ever!

CV

How To Write a Good CV

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How to Write a Standout CV

Updated Guidance for 2025

Your CV is your first chance to make an impression on a future employer—it’s the gateway to securing an interview and landing your next role. A well-crafted CV can make all the difference, so it’s essential to ensure it’s polished, professional, and tailored to the job you’re applying for.

In this updated guide, we’ll walk you through the key steps to creating a standout CV, with tips to ensure your application catches the eye of potential employers.

1. Formatting Matters

The layout and design of your CV can leave a lasting first impression. A clean, professional look shows attention to detail and helps employers focus on your qualifications.

  • Use a clear, readable font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman in size 10–12.
  • Limit your CV to two A4 pages, highlighting only relevant information.
  • Maintain consistent formatting throughout (e.g., bold all headings and use uniform bullet points).
  • Check for spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors.
  • Avoid adding a photo unless explicitly requested.
  • Tailor your CV to the job, showcasing qualities and experiences that match the role.

2. Contact Details

Make it easy for employers to reach you with accurate, professional contact information:

  • Full Name: Include your first and last name.
  • Mobile Number: Ensure it’s one you can answer during the day.
  • Email Address: Use a professional email format, e.g., jane.smith@email.com.
  • Location: Specify your town or city rather than your full address for privacy.

3. Personal Statement

Place a short, well-written personal statement at the top of your CV. This brief section (no more than three sentences) should highlight why you’re a strong candidate, encouraging employers to keep reading.

4. Work Experience

List your professional history, starting with your most recent role. For each position, include:

  • Start and end dates (month and year).
  • Job title and employer’s name.
  • A summary of your key duties and achievements. Be specific (e.g., “Supported bottle feeding and managed daily routines for twins aged 6 months”).

If you’ve had numerous short-term roles: Combine them into an overarching summary to avoid repetition.

5. Education and Qualifications

Include your educational background in reverse chronological order, detailing:

  • Schools, colleges, or universities attended.
  • Qualifications achieved, including dates and grades (if relevant).

6. Additional Information

Highlight certifications or details that add value to your application, such as:

  • A valid, up-to-date DBS check.
  • UK full, clean driving licence.
  • Nationality and visa status (if applicable).

7. Interests and Hobbies

Give employers a glimpse of your personality by sharing hobbies and interests that reflect your character and dedication, such as volunteering or skill-based activities.

8. References

Simply state: “References available upon request.” Ensure your referees are prepared to provide a strong recommendation when needed.

Looking for Inspiration?

Explore our sample CV templates for Maternity Nurses and Nannies to see how these principles come to life.

Your CV is your chance to shine—make it count!

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Online Tax-Free Childcare for 2017

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You may have heard about the new online Tax- Free Childcare government scheme starting in early 2017 for parents and childcarers.

It might sound too good to be true but it really is happening. Now here are some facts that you will need to know before you make the right decision for you.

How do I know if I am eligible to use this scheme?

In order to be eligible to use this service you must be one of the following and meet the criteria:
– Parent/s– You will need to be in work and earning around £115 a week and no more than £100,000 each per year (any eligible working family can apply, employer does not have to offer the scheme, like the current one)

– Child Carer– You must be a registered with a regulator to receive Tax-Free Childcare payments (Throughout September and October 2016 letters were sent to regulated and approved childcarers across the UK, asking you to sign up to the Tax-Free Childcare)

Information for Child Carers:

To register with a regulator can take up to 12 weeks. In order to do this, the regulator will need your current address and email address, without these you will not be invited to sign up for Tax-Free Childcare. However should you of provided these details and not received an invitation then you can call the childcare service helpline on 0300 123 4097

Once registered parents will be able to see that you have signed up for Tax-Free Childcare, using a new digital tool which will allow parents to search for childcarers who can be paid using Tax-Free Childcare.

You will also need to provide your bank details so that parents can directly pay you into your bank account (via BACS) using their Tax-Free Childcare account. So that you can identify each payment each child will have a Tax-Free Childcare reference number.

Nannies – In order to sign up you will also need to provide your National Insurance number, this can be found on your P60, payslip or letters from the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)

Running a Business – To sign up you will need to use your 10-digit Unique Tax Reference (UTR) number. This is the number given to you by HMRC when you first said you were going to work for yourself.

For assistance, you can call the childcare service helpline on 0300 123 4097

Information for Parents:

For every 80p you or someone else pays in, the government will top it up with an extra 20p. This works out as the equivalent most people pay in tax (20%) which is why the scheme has its name tax-free. The government will top up the account with 20% pf childcare costs up to a total of £10,000 – the equivalent of up to £2,000 support per child per year (or £4,000 for disabled children)

You will be able to make payments into the account as and when you like, allowing for more flexibility. This means you will be able to build up your balance and use it as and when you need too. If other family members or employers want to pay into the account they can. You can also withdraw money from the account if you want. If your circumstances change or you simply no longer wish to use the scheme then you can do so.

The scheme will be available for children up to 12 years or 17 years for disabled children, as their childcare costs can remain high throughout their teenage years.
You will be able to open an online account through the government website (gov.co.uk) All eligible parents will be able to join the scheme by the end of 2017. The youngest child can be applied for first.

Parents on paid sick leave paid and unpaid statutory maternity, paternity and adoption leave will also be able to use the scheme.

If you are already receiving the current Employer-Supported Childcare then you do not have to switch. This scheme will continue to run and be open to new applicants until April 2018. Employers’ workplace nurseries will not be affected by the new scheme.

Self-employed Parents – This Tax-Free Childcare scheme is also available to you, not like the current one. To support newly self-employed parents the government are introducing a ‘start-up’ period. During this, you will not have to be earning the minimum amount.

To keep the process simple for all parents you may need to re-confirm your details every 3 months via a simple online process. You will also be able to view the accounts for all of the children at once.

More information will be available once the scheme is closer to release, allowing parents to consider all their childcare options.

Information for All:

Costs that are usually covered by the parents (employers):
– Common Core Skills and Knowledge Course (HATA run this for £75 non-accredited or £89 with accreditation from OCN)
– OFSTED Registration (£105 as of 06/12/2016)

Costs that are covered by the child care (employee):
– Paediatric First Aid Course (HATA run this for £75)
– Valid and up to date DBS (formerly CRB Check) HATA offer this for £70