Teaching or Nannying?

What about other jobs where you get to work with children, but individually or in small groups. You could be an occupational therapist, speech pathologist, or child psychologist just to name some of the obvious options.

Nannying, or the kind of nannying that pays, I’d never going to be about ‘disadvantaged children’!

I won’t go into teaching because I earn much more nannying- in central London for a high net worth and take home about £45-50,000 a year depending on overtime.

Obviously, those children are very privileged. Music lessons, mandarin, private school, fine star holiday resorts etc etc. But I still like to think I give them experiences they might not otherwise have- sometimes it’s really simple stuff like nature walks or a mud kitchen or baking, craft activities, soft play, hours at the park, trips to seaside towns. The parents don’t go in for that stuff but they’re still just kids at the end of the day so they love it and it’s lovely to see them enjoy things that aren’t just for the upper echelons.

I have lived in when I was younger but have been a live out nanny for years now, it’s too intense otherwise. SO much also depends on the family you work for.

However, I’ve just had my own baby and fitting back into nannying is a huge obstacle. I will still do it because of the money. But do you know what, it’s really going to rankle that I’m putting my baby into nursery to go and get paid to look after someone else’s children. I’m going to try and squish my hours into four days or find a more part time role. I’d kill to stay off with him until he’s about 2 but I can’t, we can’t do it on DH’s salary and I’m the higher earner. So that’s definitely something to think about.

Travelling nanny was a great gig and I went all over the world but that was pre covid (and pre baby!)

Introverts can be great teachers and you can be transformed from not knowing how to work large groups to a master of the job. Teaching gives more opportunities for classroom work and small group tuition. Plenty of room to work with the disadvantaged.

If you want to work with less privileged children, nannying is probably not going to be the right career path. Teaching might be better.

I ultimately didn't end up teaching or nannying long term, I moved into my country's equivalent of the civil service (it was an all hands on deck recruitment drive due to covid). I do miss working with children and have strongly considered moving back into education. Maybe when the pandemic settles down.

The assessment and interviews seem scary, but it's mostly there to help you. Just like when you assess children you're teaching, until it gets to the end of secondary it's really to check understanding and progress. As you get used to it, it's less frightening.

Also remember you will gain a lot of transferrable skills and can career-hop if you like. This works especially well between well-paid jobs, fulfilling but poorly paid jobs, and (possibly as you get older) jobs with good maternity packages/flexibility for families.

Good luck!

Why not continue to work as a TA and in the out of school club for a while longer and talk to the school staff and ask for their tips and advice?
You don't have to go to University at 18 or 19. You will probably do better for a little bit more experience. You can also save up so you have some money in the bank before becoming a student.
Or, of course, you might decide teaching isn't what you want to do.

Nannying is a great job and when you work for the right family, it can be amazing. However, unless you work for a very wealthy family it is usually fairly low paid and has little chance of career progression. It is also a trickier career to have your own family in, unless you transition to being a childminder or similar.

I also started working in schools at 18 and felt like commanding a classroom was daunting. I was fresh out of school and remembered my own respect for my teachers and couldn't imagine inspiring that sort of automatic respect in children. But primary school aged children don't necessarily see you as an 18 year old, just as a member of staff like any other. It gets easier as you gain your confidence.

I would recommend you pursue your degree in teaching (or any degree + teaching certificate) as it will give you more options in life. Teaching has set holidays and career progression opportunities and I believe will always welcome you back. While you are studying, you can easily get work babysitting.

If you want to do nannying instead, having a teaching (or nursing) degree in my experience will help you get a position working for a wealthy family with a good salary (I only emphasis working for a wealthy family because it means they can afford to pay you what your time is worth).

Alternatively, if you want to go all-in on the nannying you might consider something like Norland, which will definitely help with getting a position later.