Becoming a Nanny in England

You do not need any qualifications to become a professional nanny, however, having the relevant college and foundation courses will make you significantly more employable and will help you to better grasp your responsibilities. Additionally, you will require to pass a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check.

Take a look at our guide to becoming a professional nanny in England, explaining what qualifications you should consider seeking, and what qualities employers will look for.

What qualifications will help me to become a nanny?

There are a few courses at the college and foundation levels that can provide you with the qualifications and experience required to become an employable nanny. The Level 1 Safeguarding and Introduction to Health, Social Care and Children's and Young People's Settings are two courses that will help you to get to grips with the essential practical and legal aspects of childcare work. Following this, the Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce and the Level 2 Early Years Practitioner qualifications will help you to build on your prior knowledge, including offering work experience opportunities.

If you are planning on working with children under the age of four, you will require an EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) qualification. This is a framework that will help you to understand how young children must be cared for in order to meet their needs. It focuses on keeping them safe and allowing the best conditions for their development and will help you to identify cases where these may be at risk.

What is a DBS check?

In order to work in any job involving the care of children, you must have an up-to-date DBS certificate. This can be split into two specific aspects: the enhanced DBS check and the children's barred list check. During these tests, your criminal record will be assessed. If you have a ban or an order that stops you from working with children or vulnerable people, you will not pass your DBS check.

Employers must arrange DBS checks for their employees. Depending on their preferences, they may arrange a private DBS check or go through Ofsted. Becoming an Ofsted registered nanny may help you to be more employable in the eyes of future employers who are familiar with Ofsted. This rule still applies to self-employed nannies, who must organise their DBS checks through an agency.

What skills should a nanny possess?

There are a number of skills and attributes that employers expect nannies to have. Some of these may vary between the different types of nannies so being aware of which will most strongly apply to your situation will help you to be more employable and ultimately better at your job.

>A nanny must be able to plan effectively. Taking on the role of a carer in a household will require you to plan activities and have a solid grasp on time-management. You should also prepare for your plans to fall through; dealing with children is a job that demands flexibility as it is not always possible to know what challenges you will be presented with. You may have to change plans and quickly come up with something new. You should ensure meals are well-prepared on time and meet the parents' requirements, and that any tidying and cleaning is done alongside your care duties.

Different clients will likely have different standards and requirements, so you should be prepared to take on more or fewer responsibilities.

A great nanny is one who fits into the family seamlessly and approaches their duties with enthusiasm and genuine care for the children. The family should be able to rely on the nanny to take up responsibility when they can not, and they should be able to maintain strong communication with both the children and parents.

For more information about how to become a nanny successfully in England and the rest of the UK, speak to our expert team today. Nannies Matter is an agency that provides nanny services as well as other housekeeping services, and we can advise you on how best to meet the requirements of potential clients and employers.

Call us today on 0800 121 4881, or fill out an online enquiry form to arrange a call back.