Writing nanny a reference

[Fraktal]

Previous nanny has requested a written ref, which I offered when she left but she wasn't sure she was going to be able to take another nanny job (it depended on her mother's health). She's now contacted me to say she's looking for a PT job and would like a reference, which I'm more than happy to do.

What are the absolute basics you want to see included? I've looked through mine and they all have:

Length of employment and ages of children
Duties and usually a comment about what I did well
Punctuality and reliability
Communication skills
Contact details

No comments on sickness but I never had a day off and neither did she. Should I put it in anyway?
Nothing about reason for leaving either.

Would it look bad to say that she was engaged on a perm basis? I know families usually look for commitment and she was ready to give it but there were extenuating circumstances.

Im a nanny on my previous reference it did mention sickness. If they are never off ill i think its nice to put something about it, shows potential employers that they are not someone who phones in sick once a month. I didnt have anything about why I left.

definitely put in about sickness.

I put a reason for leaving on both my previous references that I've written for nannies and I usually put it for the professional staff and floor staff when I was working previously.
My previous nannies were both very good, so they got nice long gushy references. I've written a couple for staff who were awful which were just very factual ie XXXX worked here from XXXX to XXXX as a contact lens fitter. During this time he had XXXX days off sick.