Is a Norland nanny worth it?

[Internationalpony]

Hi all,

We’re looking at getting a nanny and I love the idea of a Norland nanny for the following reasons:

1. They’re people who have truly chosen nannying as a vocation and haven’t just drifted into it
2. After a three year degree they’ll have a real in depth knowledge of child development so will be actively developing DC not just looking after them
3. They develop a weekly meal plan and activity plan - I’d find this so reassuring and beneficial
4. It seems like they’d do things to make our lives easier in so many other ways e.g. responsible for keeping the nursery tidy, DC laundry, will even meal prep for DC for the weekend
5. There are a clear set of expectations set out by Norland on what the nanny does and doesn’t do which can help to avoid any potential problems further down the line

However they’re of course very expensive, even for a newly qualified one, and we’d only consider a live out arrangement.

Obviously affordability is very personal but my question is, how easy is it to find other nannies who are just as good and proactively focus on child development? Are most other nannies happy to / expect to do similar duties? Where else have people found good nannies?

Finally, we have recently relocated to Northern England which another reason I’m concerned about finding a good nanny - there is so much more choice in London! Would any Norland nanny want to or be willing to be based here? Has anyone had a Norland nanny in the North before?

Thanks in advance!

You have explained that eloquently. The OP explained it as per the Catherine Tate post above. Hilarious. Did she mean to be so rude....

What have I said to put Northerners down? If I didn’t like the North I wouldn’t have moved here! I only said there is less choice of nannies compared to London - I imagine the same is true in parts of the South. Norland College is based in Bath so I’m not sure whether it’s commonplace for them to move North after graduating, far from where they live, and while I personally love where I live I’m aware it will likely be perceived as less “desirable” than London or overseas to a nanny currently based in Bath and with a wide choice of vacancies.

OP they know that.

Anyone who can read knows that. It's deliberate. Not witty, or "a bit of humour" or "sarcasm". It's tedious and deliberate derailing.

The fact that some people like to pretend they can't see that, despite what is written, is not your problem.

There is someone just appeared who knows of Norland presence closer to your area, I'd pursue that avenue. The NN my ex's sister had, was outstanding. You may find similar through a lot of personal searching. Norland trained basically guarantees it. You are unlikely to be a popular choice for most NN, given your competition is miles away, essentially right on their doorstep, or the rich with exciting, attractive lifestyles. It won't be impossible to get a NN where you live. You'll just have a far far smaller pool to choose from. I do remember in our time, we interviewed an ex NN. She was great. But could only commit for 6mths as she was moving, so we didn't use her. You might be lucky and find an ex NN in your area.

There's a reason that people who could choose any nanny they like, choose Norland. They are the best, but on the flip side the NN know they can command the "best" salaries and families to work for so to speak.

I’m sorry about the meanness shown on this thread op, just to reiterate it is definitely worth you registering with Norland for an NQN. The vast majority of jobs for Norland are in London and not everyone wants to be there.

There are quite a few Northen Norlanders and after 3 years in Bath there’s a good chance that one might jump at the chance to work closer to home. Good luck!

I was talking in general @Internationalpony If you've not done any of the things I mentioned then you know I'm not talking about you, surely.

@ForGreyKoala

"I seriously wonder why some people even bother to have children tbh! What's the point in having a child and getting someone else to do all the work?"

Can you tell that to 95% of fathers?

I don't know how much it compares in nursing specifically but I would never move to the US to work, even for more money. I know someone who did for an office role but she has almost no maternity rights now, which is crazy as I was off for a year which each of mine, and her holiday days are half what she had before and she says there is a weird martyrdom about not using them. Even with her healthcare plan she had to be taken to hospital for horrible pains in her gallbladder and I remember the ambulance alone cost her £500, I didn't ask how much she owed after the surgery but I know she is still paying it off. She told me about her friend who developed manic depression and lost her job because of it, therefore losing her healthcare and any ability to pay for the medication she needed to stabilize herself as it was hundreds of dollars just for the drugs.

Honestly, I love visiting the US, beautiful country, but the idea of working there is quite alarming.

Nurses are very underpaid in the UK compared to the US, because people in the UK generally are paid far less than people in the US for jobs in general! The UK is much, much poorer than the US in material terms, it's just a fact (in fact, there are signs that some US firms are even starting to look to the UK to outsource 100% WFH American jobs to - so some of the many Americans who have settled comfortably into 100% working from home in those big houses had better be careful......)

I do not think we will get a huge outflux of Brits emigrating to the US, though, as cultural differences are pretty large. Brits wanting to emigrate for better weather and higher pay usually want to go to Oz, NZ, certain European countries or (much less often) Canada, in my experience.

I would if I could afford it. I think it's normal to want the best for your child.

You will get a lot of negativity on here about Norland nannies. Mostly stemming from jealousy from people who can't afford one.
Norland nannies are very highly trained in all aspects of childcare. If you can afford it, go for it.

While US salaries are undoubtedly higher than the UK, pensions, holiday, sick pay, maternity entitlements as well as health insurance all need to be taken into account when comparing the two. State taxes and property taxes can also be high.

Definitely a Northern term. Some things we just don’t share with ‘soft’ Southerners 👍

Northern nanny here!

I think I do a bloody good Job. I have been with many lovely families. Kept all children happy and safe. I have qualifications. The only difference to a Norland nanny is just the 'name'

Welcome to the North. We are a friendly bunch! 😁

Once you factor in health care in the US, which the employer usually (but not always) provides and then work out deductibles and co-pays for health care, plus taxes on property, local taxes, school taxes etc., most Americans in the US are not better off than people in the UK. The main attraction for US employers coming to the UK is that they do not have to provide health insurance for their employees, which is a huge saving. So if the Tories or Farage think inputting a US style insurance business plan rather into place rather than the NHS, they will find it hits them in the face (and the wallet if they are employers). NI is nothing like the amount that US employers put towards their employees' health care. NB all the countries you list as preferred by UK emigrants have universal health care.

@Grammarnut nobody is recommending a US style health care system for the UK or anywhere else for that matter. Farage has looked to France as an example of an obviously superior system, like Australia and most other European healthcare systems it’s insurance based.

The NHS is insurance-based. It's just that the insurer is the government. Many do not understand this. You have to be an insured person under the National Health Acts. And Farage is on record during Brexit campaign of saying the NHS should be privatized - and Jeremy Hunt contributed an article on privatization - sorry, can't remember the book, will look it up.

The NHS is funded by general taxation, not insurance.

The only consideration for treatment is if you are ordinarily resident in the UK, everything else including NI contributions are irrelevant. Happy to be corrected but I’m not aware of any other country which operates a healthcare system on this basis.

Where do you find your families? On websites like childcare.co.uk the “nannies” in my area seem to be students (studying politics etc) looking for casual work or are only available half days. Are there nanny agencies you’d recommend?

@Internationalpony I use childcare.co.uk always making sure everything is up to date. Families seek me out sometimes or vice versa. All depends on what exactly you are both looking for.

Can't comment on the agency's, I don't use them.

Would be great to know what part of North you are based.

Good luck in your search :-)

I am a qualified, highly experienced nanny. I didn’t go to Norland, I do everything you’ve described except I have a diploma not a degree..

it’s up to you are Basically your paying a premium for the prestige of having a Norland Nanny.

@SherbetDips Where is your diploma from?

Mines a diploma as well

NNEB 1991 so 33yrs ago

was the IN childcare course. People knew if a NNEB you studied well for 2yrs and wanted to work with children

NNEB's Were always wanted and advertised in 'The lady'

Sad they stopped it and then was nvq and btec etx

With Norland you have a Diploma and a Degree, it takes 4 years to qualify.

This was back in 2003 and so things may have changed now. But it’s a diploma is children’s care, development and education. From a local collage I went to.