Norland nannies for the not-so-posh

[mauvaisereputation]

My husband and I are starting to look for a daily nanny for to look after our daughter when she turns one and my husband finishes his parental leave (it's a few months off).

I'd really like a Norland nanny and according to the salary guide on the Norland website we can afford one who is 1-2 years qualified (sadly we would need the nanny to start at the wrong time of year to get an NQ).

Does anyone have any experience of interviewing and/or hiring Norland nannies?

I am concerned that our lives are too 'humble' to attract one -- although my husband and I both have fairly well-paid professional jobs, we are at the start of our careers. We have a two bedroom terraced house in an unfashionable London suburb. The area is nice - there are parks and lots of groups and classes for babies and toddlers - but it's definitely not a posh area (although it is gentrifying). Our house itself is nice and cosy and clean but not show-home-ish in the least and the kitchen could do with doing up. We don't have a car at the moment but we have been thinking of getting one and giving the nanny use of it during the week.

Is there any hope for us to get a Norland nanny? There wouldn't be any others in the area I bet. I just worry that they're all going to go and work for millionaires in Chelsea and Hampstead. Is there any way we can make this position seem attractive?

Any insights would be gratefully received.

Why are you so focussed on a Norland nanny? There are some lovely ones I'm sure, but as you suspect, many will train there in order to go to a certain type of job.

We have had applications from two Norland nannies in the past, but haven't gone for them - we live in an nice but unstaffed suburban zone 3 house with 4 boys, and want someone who's happy to get stuck in as part of the family, and also don't want to pay a premium for a name and training we don't need. Don't forget that on top of the salary you've seen quoted you'll need to pay NI and pension, plus usually they'll expect a Christmas bonus, annual salary growth with experience and with more children.

If you go on childcare.co.uk and nannyjob with one child, a nice working environment and the salary you are talking about you will have plenty of candidates, including some very good and qualified ones, I guarantee!

Or if you're set on a Norland nanny, you're likely best off going via an agency - it will be more expensive but they'll have more on their books.

Thanks Stuck. I think you're probably right that I should broaden my horizons! I am attracted to the idea of a nanny who is formally trained and who has made the commitment to formal training and nannying as a career mainly because I don't really have a clear idea of how I'm going to tell whether someone is good or not when we interview them. So I feel that at least a qualification from a highly regarded training centre is a mark of quality I can feel confident in. But perhaps I will get a better sense of who the good candidates are after we interview a few people.

Norland isn't the only place where nannies can get their training - and to be honest I'd guess that most nannies who go to Norland would be aiming at those rich millionaire employers. PP is correct - go to one of the nanny job websites you'll find heaps of qualified nannies. Good luck !

I would definitely look for a nanny elsewhere. I imagine a Norland nanny has invested money in their qualifications with a certain job/employer in mind who is after the prestige of the Norland brand. I recommend using childcare.co.uk. You may have to sift through a lot of people but I believe you will find a truly nurturing and caring nanny for your 1 year old. That’s where we found ours, she had a teaching degree and was perfect for us. Most listed on there would love working full-time with just one child as with most people a nanny is only worthwhile with 2 or more children.

Agree with the others, but also know a Norland Nanny who was working as a live-in in a very average neighbourhood in SE London.

I chose nannying as a career while still at school and trained in my local college and then part time while working in a nursery. Considered going on to do a BA but it really wouldn’t have been financially worthwhile in the area I live. It is not only Norland Nannies who are committed to the role. I would place more importance on being very thorough at interview to ensure you find a nanny who will fit well with your family and approach to raising children.

If you advertise or search in the Lady you will find qualified Nannies, not all are Norland, just look for NNEB qualifications I did the training many year ago.
I wanted to be a Norland Nanny then realized it was the same qualification, just a different college.
I ended up as an RN instead.

Troels is correct.

When I was doing my training we watched a film about Norland Nannies and we saw several in London as they wear their uniforms but they completed the same qualification as we were studying.
NNEBs or SNNEBs completed two years of study and placement including baby, nursery, school, hospital (London visit and local placement), Special Needs( placement in local SEN school) and some like myself in SS day nursery. We covered the same curriculum and sat the same exam!
I think they follow CACHE now.
By all means look for a qualified nanny but they don’t have to be Norland which you will pay for the prestige too.

Good luck with your search.

Bit like Toni and Guy! My friend was a
terrible hairdresser, bless her, she worked in a granny hairdressers til she got a job at T&G - got paid more, cost more, still did bad hair

It's all a name, a franchise, just get a decent nanny

I’ve got the exact same qualifications as a Norland nanny. Only difference is I studied at college.

It’s a status symbol for the rich and famous.

I find it quite insulting to be honest that you think only girls who have gone to a posh college are decent career nannies!

My best friend is a norlander. She has never worn the uniform
(Apart from the first job) she doesn't even promote herself as a norland nanny. She's been a nanny for 30+ years and is fabulous. She works in London, areas like battersea, balham and clapham, so not your Kensington and Chelsea. The children usually go to private schools or nurseries and lots of the parents don't much spend time with their children at weekends when she isnt there so she is the major carer in their lives. the homes are pretty average houses and definitely not mansions. She gets paid exactly the same rate as any nanny with a qualification. She doesn't apply get jobs through norland itself rather good local agencies where she has found the parent /employer combination to be a bit more realistic overall.
(I've known her forever so hear about this all a lot!).

You can employ a nanny who is formally trained and has a commitment to training etc

If you want an experienced one, then you want a nneb (me) nanny or a namcw one - 2 yrs of training and college placemats

They will also be old 😉 as nneb doesn’t exist anymore

Or more recently they are Btec nvq etx

Thanks very much everyone - this is very helpful, especially the details of other qualifications to look out for.

@chochocbuttons - I was certainly not intending to cause offence or suggest that only Norland nannies are any good at their jobs. My point was just that a qualification (or 'brand') you've heard of and know to be respected is helpful when choosing between candidates if you don't know what you're looking for. Definitely not looking to start a fight here.

I have a Norland nanny. We are not mega bucks rich - two city jobs, I work 4 days, 70% of my salary goes on her pay!

We have a rough round the edges Victorian terrace and 3 kids. Although a lot of her friends went for the money option there are also quite a few who want a more down to earth boss and normal lifestyle. My kids are very normal, we mostly holiday in UK/Ireland and she never comes with us!

So definitely no reason why you couldn’t find one to work for you. Her background is useful but wasn’t a deal breaker for me as it’s her personality/enthusiasm that made me want her

We had one once when I was ill (PND) she was easy for me to work with but I worry she was a little to hard on my DS, who was very little. We then had an au pair who was worth a thousand Norland nannies.

I would spend the same money on someone with more work experience to be honest.

Norland is like Oxbridge. All it does is guarantee a certain qualification / standard - you will still have to interview lots of people to get the quality you need. Generally I would be suspicious if a Norland nanny was willing to work for you under your circumstances as that would suggest they can’t get a better job and their qualification / pass may be the equivalent of an Oxbridge student with a 3rd class degree. It’s just not true that newly Norland nannies are easier or cheaper to get.

Absolutely go on your gut, after a formal interview ask to see them with your children. This should give you a good feel for who they are, I'd also suggest a probation period. I say this as someone who isn't norland trained but did get a job with a very rich family due to my manner and experience.
Good luck.

Yes but Teddybear45 there are lots of us with the same qualification but we don't have Norland in front of our NNEB. It is the same qualification though I believe they get terrorist training now! I think I read this on their site some time ago.

Cache Diploma replaced NNEB Dip.though I don't know why they ever did away with it as it is recognised world wide.

NVQ do''t study for as long and don't have as much placements as NNEBs as we can work for NHS, SS, Education and as Nannies. I wrote an essay when completing a module of the Advance Diploma of Childcare and Education. Some BTec are the same standard. Research the qualifications first and definitely see the nanny with the child/ren. Check for First Aid too.

@Bowerbird5 yes sad they did away with the nneb

It was and still is a qualification we’ll know

Meant you were serious about being a nanny

Compared to many Nannies now who aren’t even qualified and think it’s easy money and lets be a nanny

Every child is worthy of a very good nanny. A very good nanny would know that. So if you have any inkling that they would turn their nose up at your family why on earth would you want someone like that around your child.

We’ve got a Norland nanny and she’s wonderful. But I interviewed a lot of nannies before choosing this particular lady. A number of CVs we received were Norland qualified, but that didn’t mean they would be a good fit for our family. It really comes down to personality and chemistry, so don’t be swayed by just the CV, you need to have a good match with the person too.

I registered with the Norland agency, as well as some of the other well known agencies. I think you need to broaden your search. As you know, the Norland qualification attracts a premium, but it’s also worth bearing mind that there are also a lot of prospective employers. I think the agency told me there were 7 potential employers registered for each Norland graduate!

Also, costs add up quickly in addition to salary and pension etc (the activities, petrol/travel, groceries for cooking etc). You need to think about the annual salary increase, too. If you can afford a newly qualified nanny now, you need to consider if you really want to keep swapping nannies regularly if you aren’t able to keep pace with salary inflation.

Good luck with your search, it’s a big decision and quite a stressful process trying to find the right person x

Have heard mixed things about Norland... but my kids have grown up and now I only need a nanny for after school hours and I went with a Koru kids nanny...

Price is ok, they take care of all legal stuff with no fees. They also chose us a few DBS checked trained nannies, had 2 interviews and now my nanny is getting along great with my kids. I had never considered getting a nanny at this stage

@ Blondes yes sad I still see some of our students from time to time and one of my tutors sings in the same choir. We had such fun and most are still in some form of childcare or teaching nearly 30 years later.