Hi there, we've been using Koru for about 6 weeks. The process of finding a nanny was very well organised. We had 5 or 6 potentials. One didn't turn up to an interview which was annoying (she'd already been placed) and 2 didn't have enough actual experience (I don't count looking after a relative sometimes). We loved one but she had bucketloads of experience so I suspect had a million families after her and chose someone else. And then we found the one we have now.
The fee you pay includes all NI, tax, holiday pay etc. But the nanny gets quite a lot less.
She has some training from Koru, but is essentially a student. We have previously had several au pairs of varying competence and the main benefit of Koru is having our house back but obviously the cost is significantly more.
Our nanny is hugely flexible which is great. The children love her. She could be tidier, but is better than our au pairs have been and she lives locally which is so much easier. Some of them drive, ours doesn't and I'm happier with that in Zone 3 London anyway.
I fear we might lose her sooner than we had hoped as she might not be going back to uni in September, but we'd probably use Koru again. We have no childminders in our area and the ASC at our school is too rigid for me\DH to get back in time with then needing to do homework etc.
So in short it's a good choice for us. I just wish there was a long term guarantee!