What Qualifications Do you need to Become a Nanny?

June 12th, 2018 Education & Language Careers

In the UK, there’s no legal requirement to have qualifications to become a nanny. However, many families will be looking to hire nannies which do hold some qualifications, to gain peace of mind that their children will be well taken care of. If you’re thinking about becoming a nanny, here’s everything you need to know to get qualified.

What does being a nanny entail?

Before you decide to embark on a career in nannying, you need to decide if it’s right for you. Being a nanny means working in people’s homes, providing care for their children while they’re at work or away. Some nannies even live with the families they work with, however part-time roles are also available.

A typical day in the life of a nanny will vary from family to family but will generally involve:

• Cooking meals
• Helping with housework
• Caring for young children or babies, bathing and teaching them basic skills
• Dropping older kids to and from school and helping with their homework
• You may also spend time planning fun activities to keep the kids entertained.

As a result of these tasks, many families look for nannies with a driver’s licence.

Is nannying right for me?

You need to love working with children of all ages. You must be able to build a good relationship with children and speak to them on their level, without being patronising. You’ll need to communicate well with the parents—after all, they need to trust you with their kids.

So if you’ve got a love of children, great interpersonal skills, patience, the ability to multitask and cope well under pressure, being a nanny could be perfect for you.

Experience vs. qualifications

Like most jobs, employers will look for a good mix of experience and qualifications, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a job if you don’t have both. If you don’t have qualifications but have years of experience looking after kids, you may have a better chance at securing a job than someone without experience. If you are relying on solely on experience, make sure you have references available. It’s best to provide contact details of your references so your prospective employers can get in contact easily.

While being a professional nanny doesn’t legally requiring a qualification, most nannies in the UK will have one. Some families may prefer to hire a nanny with qualifications as it demonstrates a dedication to your work and knowledge, plus, the things you learn when completing a course will help you out on the job. You should also be aware that if you want to register with a nanny agency, some may only register you if you have a qualification.

You can get a Nanny Diploma from the International Career Institute UK. This professional nanny course teaches you all you need to know about the health and safety of young people, child psychology, and child development and learning. Plus, you can get qualified for your dream job in just 24 weeks.

What else can I do?

To help you land a job, you can register for Ofsted. The Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (‘Ofsted’) is responsible for inspecting and regulating the services which care for children and young people. Getting registered with Ofsted may open up more job opportunities for you. Families who employ an Ofsted-registered nanny can receive financial contributions toward their childcare costs, therefore many parents will be looking to benefit from employing an Ofsted registered nanny. Nannies are also required to hold Public Liability Insurance when becoming Ofsted Registered.

If you want to register for Ofsted, there are several things you will need to do first:

1. Get an enhanced DBS criminal record check.
2. Get qualified in first aid – contact your local council or look for a course online.
3. Get trained – you will need a minimum level 2 qualification in childcare or training in the common core skills.

Ofsted will generally register you within 12 weeks and once approved, you will receive a registration certificate. It’s important to note that there is a £103 fee involved in registering with Ofsted.

If you choose to get qualified, it’s a great idea to keep copies of your qualifications with you to show these upon request. Families searching for a nanny have the right to ask you to provide qualifications, so it’s always good to be prepared.

Becoming a nanny

If becoming a nanny is your dream job then it’s time to get started. Any experience you have is good experience, but getting qualified will give you that extra competitive edge when looking for jobs. Apply for a nannying course with International Careers Institute UK today.

by Gladys Mae

Gladys Mae serves as the General Manager and Head of Student Services at the International Career Institute. Gladys holds a degree in Mass Communication - Broadcast Media from the University of San Jose-Recoletos. She joined ICI in 2010 and has over the past 12 years been instrumental in providing leadership and guidance to staff and students alike. Prior to joining ICI Gladys led a multifaceted career with key roles in the banking and business process outsourcing industries.