What is a Nanny?
Nannies work inside a family’s home to offer childcare to one or more children. Nannies work with children of all ages – from babies to school-goers. Some nannies will live in the family home, while others will come in daily.
Nannies differ from babysitters in that they typically work on a more permanent basis over a set amount of hours per week. They are also separate from childminders who are registered by Ofsted and offer care within their own homes.
What hours does a nanny work?
The hours a nanny works will vary depending on their individual contract. Nannies can be either full-time or part-time – with full-time nannies working around 40 or more hours, and part-time nannies working either shorter hours or only a few days per week. Nannies usually offer childcare during the day when parents are at work. A full-time nanny will normally work between 10-12 hours a day, finishing anytime from 6pm – 8pm. You can read more about different nanny positions here.
How much does a nanny earn?
Like any job, the amount a nanny earns depends on the number of hours they work and their experience level. Research undertaken by Bubble shows that wages in the UK range between £400 – £550+ net per week for full-time live-in nannies, while those that live away from the family home will earn between £11 and £14+ net per hour. You can read about nanny salaries in more detail here.
What does a nanny do?
The duties of a nanny will differ depending on the family’s needs and the children’s ages. Typical responsibilities include taking children to school or extracurricular activities, organising playdates and activities, and feeding and preparing meals for the children.
Nannies will also often start the bedtime routine too; this may include bathing, reading bedtime stories or even putting children to bed.
What qualifications does a nanny need?
Becoming a professional nanny doesn’t require a qualification in the UK. That said, many nannies have chosen to undertake additional qualifications which can provide more in-depth knowledge and enhance earning potential. The majority of colleges will offer recognised qualifications in childcare, such as the Early Years Diploma. These courses can take anywhere from six months to several years to complete.
Many nannies also choose to voluntarily register with Ofsted. While this isn’t compulsory for nannies, this can benefit parents as it enables them to get help with childcare costs via government schemes. If you’re interested in registering with Ofsted, you’ll need an enhanced DBS check, a Level 2 qualification in childcare and an accredited first aid qualification. You can read more about this on the government website.
What experience does a nanny need?
In truth, the amount of experience a nanny needs will depend entirely on the family they’ll be working with. Some parents may be more open to hiring a junior nanny, whilst others may specifically want to work with someone with significant experience.
If you have experience in looking after children, whether providing after-school care or babysitting and if you’re able to offer professional references demonstrating your ability as a caregiver, this will give you a good chance of securing a job as a nanny.
If you’re just starting out and looking to gain some practical experience, you could try applying to Regular Help jobs via our app. With Regular Help, you’ll agree to do multiple sits with the same family in a block booking. This is a great opportunity to gain some experience and build up some professional references.
Being a nanny can be tough at times, but on the whole, it’s a hugely rewarding, fun and challenging career that can unlock incredible opportunities and has great earning potential. If the above sounds like something you’re interested in, then please do apply to one of our open positions and a member of our team will be in touch to assist you with your application.
