nanny reference

[pradavprimark]

could anyone help????

I know what needs to be included roughly but i really want to write a good one.
how should it be broken up?

I am a nanny and it needs to include the number and ages of your children, days/hours worked (ie: full or part time and approx hours/week), duties included. Once you have those basics done, you should also say how you thought they were with the children, the things you really liked about them (eg: getting the kids outdoors, fab cook, really helped witha certain area of development).

Also include anything extra they did. For instance, did they proxy parent for you?

I think thats most of it... Am sure someone else will come along in a min with some more suggestions as well though!

What NannyBeth said plus the reasons for ending the employment.

I'd include punctuality, reliability, how flexible they were too.

Oh and i would finish with 'happy to give verbal reference aswell on this tel number'.

Personally i wouldn't take references without landline number (or workplace number).

My format is generally

X was employed from (date) to (date) as (job title). Her job included :- taking care of a Xyr old boy/girl, taking them to playgroup, cooking meals, planning activities, children's washing (or whatever).
He/She was punctual and reliable. He/She had X number of days off due to illness in the last year.
He/She was very good/excellent/confident at .......... and ................ ( I would generally comment on whether they bonded well with the kids, and a comment on flexibility if they were).
I would be happy to give a verbal reference, please contact me on the above number.

i guess you really want to write a good one because you had a great nanny?
if so dont be afraid to go beyond the businesslike. say exactly what was so great about her/him, what difference they made to your family life. in my ref about our last nanny for example i said she'd given me the peace of mind to work, because i always knew things would be fine at home. when i was hiring her i was struck by a reference from a previous employer who'd let her go when they moved to america, and said she had tried and failed to persuade our nanny to emigrate with her - that was what made me think she must be good....

Agree with nouveaupauvre, I really liked to read all the personal information/views on what they liked about the nanny.

In fact, if I read a purely factual one I tend to think they weren't that keen on the nanny and were just going through the motions of doing the ref.