Early Years foundation education and nanny?

[victoriagirl]

We have a super nanny who our DT's adore. They will be 3 in February 2011, so next Easter they will qualify for the gov vouchers to help with nursery education. Does anyone know if our nanny could be registered to provide some of this education, so that we can keep her rather than putting them in nursery? I know some childminders are registered to do this but I am not sure what the process is, and its hard to find out. Our nanny is registered with ofsted but does not follow the EYFS curriculum (as she is not legally required to) but she is competent and would very easily be able to pick it up I am sure. Would really value any information as I have to let the nursery know asap if we want their places.

Nope. She is not registered as an early years setting with OFSTED so she can't. Same reason you can't study for EYPS as a nanny.

If she wanted to she would need to be a CM with all that entails.

Grrr. Presssed post.

... And even then only some accredited childminders can offer the EY education places.

Even given that the vouchers don't cover much would you have to let nanny go? Would you choose FT nursery or could you/she consider a mix and make it a 4 day job or something? Depends on nursery sessions I suppose but there are other people who do it.

If she's a great nanny she is probably providing everything that EYFS entails, but you will not get the funding.

LibDems manifesto says they will include nannies... but they don't detail how exactly that will be done or the timescale.

Even though there is this 'free' education being offered, you don't have to take it up. It is for a restricted time period in terms of hours per day and weeks per year. So it won't replace your nanny.

As you have DT's what it could be useful for is to give each twin their own time to be on their own with nanny, their own time to be with other similar aged children.
Visit some local community pre-schools and see what they offer. One twin could do 2 sessions on their own, the other could do 2 sessions and nanny could help the group plus have both DTs at the group 1 session a week. Parent helpers are often wanted, so the group would love your nanny to help out for a session a week.

Thanks for your replies- sorry not to have posted my thanks sooner- was on holiday (thought we would have wireless access but we didn't). We are in such a quandary about it as we want to stick with her if possible but the money is crippling. She works for us for 2 days a week- my dh works 3 days and I work 4 days. I am inclined to stick with her and somehow get by, then the boys could access local pre-school on their dad's days and stick with the groups they go to with the nanny on the other days. I just need to find some way of affording it for another 2 years!!

... have you thought of a nanny share?

If you know someone in need of a nanny on the same days as you and your if nanny were happy to take on another child or 2 (and if you were happy for her to care for other children alongside your own), sharing her would cut the cost. Though your nanny should be payed more for more children, it shouldnt be anywhere near as much as double what you are paying (eg £2 per child I think is reasonable)... so the total cost may be higher, but you would be splitting it with another family, so you would be paying less overall...

hope thats helpful! good luck with it all!