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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

What is a reasonable salary expectation for a young live-out full-time nanny in outer London

70 replies

Undrugged · 06/02/2025 23:25

My soon to be 18 year old will be looking for a live-out nannying job for 1-2 years post- A levels, from summer 2026. We are in London/ Surrey borders. She wants to do an expensive and very specific childcare degree course that I can’t afford as a single parent unfortunately. This is a way of saving for her fees and also getting real, practical experience of nannying for a couple of years prior.

She has work history already - a job which involves preparing full family meals from scratch 3 times a week, ironing, cleaning, gardening, in a multi-generational home. she’s done this since she was 14. Also now volunteering on weekends with a family with a child with moderate SEND and absolutely loving every minute of it.

She would do a paediatric first aid course and seek Ofsted reg as a home childcarer before starting work.

Realistically — what is the going rate for a very young nanny these days? And how would you suggest she looks for work? And how does she addrsss the issue of only being available for a max of 2 years? She does not want to fib but I can see this would be less attractive to families looking for continuity of care with their children.

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Anotherfrozenpizzafortea · 07/02/2025 05:07

Is she for some reason not eligible for student finance? Not sure how legit 'an expensive and very specific childcare degree course' is, if it's more than the eyewateringly expensive usual fee?

Student finance usually pays the course fee plus any maintenance loan. Of course it's all repayable with interest once she hits the earnings bracket.

Inexperienced and unqualified nannies would most certainly attract a much lower fee, I'd be worried about her being exploited - even live-out, being expected to stay late etc.

Has she taken proper career advice at school/college?

Undrugged · 07/02/2025 08:08

It’s wholly legitimate and very long established, but she isn’t eligible for full, ‘normal’ student finance. She’d get a reduced rate loan for fees, which is one issue, and the other is that it is not subject to the fee cap.

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winterdarkness · 07/02/2025 08:18

Anotherfrozenpizzafortea · 07/02/2025 05:07

Is she for some reason not eligible for student finance? Not sure how legit 'an expensive and very specific childcare degree course' is, if it's more than the eyewateringly expensive usual fee?

Student finance usually pays the course fee plus any maintenance loan. Of course it's all repayable with interest once she hits the earnings bracket.

Inexperienced and unqualified nannies would most certainly attract a much lower fee, I'd be worried about her being exploited - even live-out, being expected to stay late etc.

Has she taken proper career advice at school/college?

Student finance hardly covers your food, let alone accommodation in London. I'm a single parent and my son's student loan this year in London was about £5k for the year. His room costs £3K per term

Tubetrain · 07/02/2025 08:18

Is it Norland?

Iwishiwasapolarbear · 07/02/2025 08:19

Anotherfrozenpizzafortea · 07/02/2025 05:07

Is she for some reason not eligible for student finance? Not sure how legit 'an expensive and very specific childcare degree course' is, if it's more than the eyewateringly expensive usual fee?

Student finance usually pays the course fee plus any maintenance loan. Of course it's all repayable with interest once she hits the earnings bracket.

Inexperienced and unqualified nannies would most certainly attract a much lower fee, I'd be worried about her being exploited - even live-out, being expected to stay late etc.

Has she taken proper career advice at school/college?

My guess is it’s the Norlandnanny course

Undrugged · 07/02/2025 08:21

Correct !

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Originblueberry · 07/02/2025 08:21

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Originblueberry · 07/02/2025 08:22

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Tubetrain · 07/02/2025 08:26

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Are you in the UK? There's no such thing as a license, and nannies don't have business insurance, they are employees.

@Undrugged unless your daughter wants a life as a slave for high net worth people, she's never going to make back the investment on Norland. For an unqualified 18 year old I'd pay £10-12 per hour as an after school nanny, I wouldn't leave her with a younger child.

Originblueberry · 07/02/2025 08:27

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Originblueberry · 07/02/2025 08:27

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MumChp · 07/02/2025 08:28

She is 18 yo. No education in childcare. Don't expect more than minimum wage.

Originblueberry · 07/02/2025 08:29

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Viviennemary · 07/02/2025 08:31

She really wouldn't be classed as a nanny without experience of childcare or qualifications. Mothers help probably.

beAsensible1 · 07/02/2025 08:32

She needs to go for mothers help work

Undrugged · 07/02/2025 08:32

@Tubetrain I don’t think that’s correct. The starting salary for Norland nannies is generally £40k + and earnings can rise to £120k. Yes, that’s from their promo material but it seemed well evidenced given Norland has the wage data as the placing agency.

As to whether I would hire her, well yes, I would knowing her as she’s exceptionally diligent, hard working and responsible 😂. But I take your point. Maybe Mothers’ Help would be a better position to look for.

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Originblueberry · 07/02/2025 08:36

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PurBal · 07/02/2025 08:38

Norland is definitely worth it. I have a friend doing 3 days a week live out for about 60k. 15 years in. It can be lonely though. Also maternity nurses I know do 6 months with a family then take 6 months off because they can earn enough in that time to cover them for the year.

Undrugged · 07/02/2025 08:42

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I think it would depend on the person. Some 18 year olds are extremely mature and nurseries are stuffed full of very young staff 🤷‍♀️. Yes, supervised but employed to mind children nevertheless.

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LittleRedRidingHoody · 07/02/2025 08:43

Could she reach out to an agency? Some do place mothers help roles/less qualified nannies. They'll give you a better idea on rates and things.

I'm in London and went down the nursery route but plenty of colleagues had nannies. I think there's a negative connotation with nannies who have 'too much' experience as they tend to assume they're always right over the parents. I remember one colleague bragging to us they'd found someone younger/cheaper 😅 She might well land a reasonably well paid role if she plays her cards right and interviews well.

Undrugged · 07/02/2025 08:45

LittleRedRidingHoody · 07/02/2025 08:43

Could she reach out to an agency? Some do place mothers help roles/less qualified nannies. They'll give you a better idea on rates and things.

I'm in London and went down the nursery route but plenty of colleagues had nannies. I think there's a negative connotation with nannies who have 'too much' experience as they tend to assume they're always right over the parents. I remember one colleague bragging to us they'd found someone younger/cheaper 😅 She might well land a reasonably well paid role if she plays her cards right and interviews well.

Thanks. I think she might try the agencies.
There is a massive shortage of nursery places round here so I think that might go in her favour.

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StormingNorman · 07/02/2025 08:48

Undrugged · 07/02/2025 08:32

@Tubetrain I don’t think that’s correct. The starting salary for Norland nannies is generally £40k + and earnings can rise to £120k. Yes, that’s from their promo material but it seemed well evidenced given Norland has the wage data as the placing agency.

As to whether I would hire her, well yes, I would knowing her as she’s exceptionally diligent, hard working and responsible 😂. But I take your point. Maybe Mothers’ Help would be a better position to look for.

Borland nannies earn extremely well but your daughter won’t earn anything like that. I agree it will be closer to minimum wage as a mother’s help or possibly working in a nursery.

Sunnyshoeshine · 07/02/2025 08:57

I was also going to suggest working in a nursery for the two years instead. I would not hire an 18yo nanny with no qualifications even if through an agency. However there were several 16-18yo nursery apprentices at DD1s nursery, who were a great part of the team, working under a qualified and experienced room leader.

Undrugged · 07/02/2025 08:57

StormingNorman · 07/02/2025 08:48

Borland nannies earn extremely well but your daughter won’t earn anything like that. I agree it will be closer to minimum wage as a mother’s help or possibly working in a nursery.

Absolutely she won’t earn anything close to Norland salary while so young and untrained. She’s pretty realistic

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Undrugged · 07/02/2025 08:58

She’s not keen on working in a nursery so will try other avenues first but it may come to that …

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