Nannies work in private homes caring for their employers’ children. They are responsible for all aspects of childcare, and their duties will vary depending on the number and ages of the children in their care. Babies and very young children need dressing, feeding, bathing and changing. Older children need to be taught basic social, reading and writing skills.

Nannies often take children on outings and keep them entertained through play. Maternity nannies are employed to care for newborn babies in the first few weeks.

Hours and Environment

For nannies working in private households, hours tend to be longer than a standard working week of 35-40 hours, and time off can vary.

Most nannies live with the family they work for, but there are opportunities for day only positions. Nannies spend much of their day alone with small children.

Skills and Interests

As a nanny, you will need:

• an interest in the social and personal development of children
• imagination and the ability to plan and organise stimulating activities
• to be responsible and aware of any potential dangers
• patience, tolerance and a sense of humour
• to be able to cope with unexpected situations, and to stay calm under pressure
• the ability to establish close and trusting relationships with parents or carers
• to be physically fit, with energy and stamina, as the work is active and can be tiring.

Entry

There are no qualifications required in order to work as a nanny, however, many employers and employment agencies prefer candidates with relevant childcare qualifications.

There are a number of courses available that act as a useful preparation for a career as a nanny. They are available both full- and part-time and often include a placement; in the absence of a placement, voluntary experience working with children will be helpful.

CACHE, the Council for Awards in Children's Care and Education, have a Certificate and Diploma in Childcare and Education which aims to teach you how best to work with children under eight, including babies and those with special needs. There are no formal entry requirements, however, some colleges prefer candidates with three to four GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3) including English and maths.

CACHE and the National Childminding Association have developed a Level 3 Diploma in Home-based Childcare, which aims to provide home-based practitioners with the skills needed to encourage and promote development in children aged 0-16. Entry requirements will be set by each centre.

In addition, there is a BTEC National Certificate and Diploma in Early Years. Entry requirements are usually five GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3) or equivalent, for example, a CACHE Certificate in Childcare and Education. Check with individual course providers for details.

A certificate in First Aid For Those Caring For Children, or Paediatric First Aid will also be useful.

There is no upper age limit and mature candidates with relevant experience of parenting or caring for other peoples children, may not be required to meet the usual entry requirements for courses.

Training

Once employed as a nanny, you can work towards NVQ/SVQ level 2 or 3 in Children's Care, Learning and Development. NVQs are awarded by City and Guilds, the Open University, BTEC and CACHE. There may be no formal entry requirements for these courses.

Opportunities

In addition to working in the UK, there are also opportunities to work overseas. Positions are advertised through agencies and in the national and local press.

Nannies with the qualifications mentioned in the Entry and Training sections may move in to nursery nursing positions. See the nursery nurse profile for more information.

The DFES Children's Workforce: Qualifications website gives details of early years, childcare and playwork qualifications which Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education) recognises as meeting the national occupational standards for under eight day care; see the Further Information.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.
Salaries will vary depending on the nannies geographical location, qualifications, and whether or not they are employed directly by a family or through an agency.

Salaries for a full-time nanny can range from £9,000 to £18,000 a year, depending on the factors mentioned above.

Further information

Royal Court
81 Tweedy Road
Bromley
Kent
BR1 1TG
Tel: 0845 880 0044 Beaufort House
Grosvenor Road
St. Albans
Hertfordshire
AL1 3AW
Tel: 0845 347 2123