At Nannies Matter, we place experienced SEN nannies with families across the Home Counties. These professionals support children with special educational needs by offering bespoke, patient and consistent care that reflects your child’s unique requirements. Many families come to us because they want a childcare professional who understands learning differences, communication needs, sensory preferences and daily routines that require a structured, calm approach.
A SEN nanny provides dedicated one-to-one support for a child who may need help with emotional regulation, attention, social interaction, developmental milestones or specific behavioural strategies. We match families with candidates who have relevant experience, SEN-focused training and the confidence to work alongside therapists, teachers and parents to create a supportive environment. Whether you need live-in or live-out support, we will find you a nanny who can fit into your family's needs and provide balance for your child, and your family.
An SEN nanny plays a central role in your child's life, giving them the routine and attention they need to feel settled, understood and able to progress at their own pace. Our SEN nannies have a wide range of practical experience supporting children with autism, learning difficulties, developmental delays, communication challenges and other additional needs. They know how to fill your child's day with stimulating activities and activities that bring joy and nurture independence.
Your child’s day may include planned activities, time outdoors, creative play or structured learning based on guidance from teachers, therapists or your child’s existing care plan. An SEN nanny can help with transitions to new settings such as schools, and will adapt their approach in line with what works best for your child. Your SEN nanny will also support your child with personal care, sensory regulation, travel to school or appointments and the creation of routines that help your child feel secure.
Families benefit from consistent communication, as SEN nannies will have sole focus on your child's development, and keep you informed about progress, patterns or challenges. This allows everyone involved in your child’s development to work in the same direction.
Families can choose either a live-in or live-out SEN nanny, depending on specific needs.
A live-out SEN nanny is suited to families who need structured support during the day or after school. They live in their own home and travel to you on agreed working days. This arrangement works well for families that want to establish a productive and nurturing weekly routine, but value family privacy and family-related activities during the evenings and weekends.
A live-in SEN nanny offers more continuity and may suit families who need morning and evening support, help with complex routines or assistance during periods of change. As with any live-in role, the nanny will require a private room and suitable living space within your home, as well as respect around working hours and downtime. Many families value the consistency and reassurance that a live-in arrangement brings.
When you speak to us, we can discuss your family's needs and help you weigh up which choice of SEN nanny will suit your home life.
Every child’s needs are different, so we focus on candidates whose experience aligns with the child they will support. Many SEN nannies have backgrounds that include:
All our nannies go through an enhanced DBS check, and have up-to-date paediatric First Aid training. Some candidates may hold childcare or education qualifications, while others bring years of hands-on SEN experience and glowing testimonials from previous roles. During your consultation, we will discuss what skills are most relevant for your family.
Working hours and salary will depend on the level of support required, the nanny’s experience, the complexity of the role and whether the position is live-in or live-out. Parents will discuss these details during the selection process, and we will advise you on what to expect from candidates with SEN experience. It's important to note that just like with any job, nannies will have set working hours and regular days off. These can be discussed and negotiated during the shortlisting and interview stages, alongside set overtime rates for extra childcare. Many parents looking for a live-in nanny, for instance, look for someone who can cover five working days, alongside two nights a week babysitting.
A special needs nanny salary will also differ depending on your location. For an idea on expectations, explore our nanny job vacancies that come with role requirements and salaries.
Our service begins with understanding your family's needs, your child’s needs, their personality and the daily routines that help them feel secure. We will speak with you about any diagnoses, therapy plans or behavioural approaches already in place, so that we can shortlist candidates with the right experience.
We take time to review each candidate’s background, training and references, and only present nannies who can offer the level of SEN support your child requires. You will be able to meet shortlisted candidates for an interview, so you can get a feel for them as a person, and decide who feels like the right fit for your family.
Throughout the process, we remain available to offer guidance, answer questions and support you through interviews, duties, expectations, contracts and the start of your nanny’s employment.
Looking for inspiration on how to ask the right interview questions? Take a look at our nanny interview guide
A SEN nanny is a specialist nanny who supports children with special educational needs or disabilities. They offer substantial one-to-one childcare in your own home. These specialist nannies have training and experience in this area, and will focus on making sure your child or children feel secure, understood and able to progress.
When you contact us, we will take the time to understand your needs and what you require from a nanny. Once we fully understand this, we will create a job description so we can attract the right candidates in our network.
Our candidates have experience with infants, school-aged children and young people. We will recommend a nanny with the right background for your child’s stage of development.
Hiring a live-in nanny for special needs children is a common way for parents who want expert support for dealing with behavioural challenges. SEN nannies have previous experience with this area of childcare, and will bring techniques to the role that will support your child to develop confidence and stability.
If you would like to hire an SEN nanny or discuss your child’s needs in more detail, contact the Nannies Matter team. We support families across areas including Surrey, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, helping them find experienced childcare professionals who can provide calm, reliable and specialist support.
Call us on 07736 337065 or fill in our contact form to arrange a call-back.
If you are a SEN nanny seeking a new role, visit our recruitment page where you can register your interest.
