NORLAND- anyone done it? Got a teen thinking about it?

[HRTeenageMum]

DD (Year 11) keen to go to Norland after A-levels. You don't seem to come across as much advice/tips as you do if your teen is thinking of Oxbridge, funnily enough, so wondered if the adviceatron that is the Mumsnet chat had any........

This thread may be of use to you.

Daughter wants to be a Norland Nanny www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4663765-daughter-wants-to-be-a-norland-nanny

Yes it is expensive but she is guaranteed a job when she graduates. Norland Nannies in London on average earn 44k with 1 years experience and after 10 can go up to 74-100k. Elsewhere in the UK it’s 30-60k. While overseas you can easily exceed 100k+ So above other professions and certainly above other childcare professions. She will certainly get back her / your money and quite quickly too!

But this is not an easy job.

One of the students I used to tutor is now a Norland Nanny at a well known middle eastern hotel (she provides childcare and leads a team of more junior Norland nannies). While yes she loves her job, she does describe it as high pressure. A full time position is 50/60 hours a week and you have to be at your best everyday. She compares it to investment banking which I guess is fair. She earns 200k and is 30. So it’s a comparable profession.

Maybe call Norland and get more information.

If money isn't a problem then I would let her go for it. Once qualified she is sure of a job with a high salary.
I watched a documentary on Norland nannies, and they appear to be nice, friendly girls ( and the occasional boy too).
The training they get is second to none, including cooking, sewing, driving lessons, self defence and looking after a baby during the night.

Not exactly, but I live in central Bath.

I sent DD(16) to their nursery in 2009, which was largely staffed by qualified or trainee Norlanders. They sold it a few years later, but it was wonderful. This was before they started doing their own degrees. A fair few families I know used to supervise trainee nannies. I suspect a few trainees were gently weeded out, because I remember a few duds who seemed to be a bit clueless about cooking/anticipating risky situations. Trainees were never left in sole charge.

Nowadays, most graduates become nannies, others move into education at infant or primary level (state or private). Others go into lecturing.

There is now a secondary tranche of trainees who aim to be nursery staff (so the college has shifted up to near Hayesfield girls school).

I'm not out and about enough to know whether they still partner their trainees with the placid to drug addicted artificial baby overnight.

Omg I had no idea they were paid so well!

So many girls go onto do childcare and earn really low salary.

This is like one xtrrmem to the other. Definitely worth it then compared to nursery workers wages!

I know a young lady just gone into her 3rd year, she's already got job offers from placements but wants to finish then consider. It's a lot of hard work. I see them in bath a lot in their "interesting" uniform (why brown, so ugly, sorry)

We had a lovely norland nanny while she was still studying. She went to grammar school (who were pretty sniffy about her chosen path), but nannying is a complete vocation for her.
She hasn’t gone for the “sell your soul” type mega-jobs, but she does command a very good wage, because she is absolutely excellent at what she does.

If your DD is totally committed to a career in childcare, I don’t think she could go anywhere better.

I know someone who in a Norland Nanny and she lives in LA. She's very successful and can pick and choose jobs. She is a baby nanny and only looks after a baby until the baby is a year old.

I was friends with a Norland nanny when I lived abroad for a while (small expat community- we stuck together).

I agree it is a great option if you love children and the challenge.

The issue my friend has was that she was 35 years old- and realistically to keep earning the prized norland wages you have to live in/do antisocial hours/be at a rich families beck and call. So if you want your own family you have to switch back into less well paid branches of childcare.

Plus if you are doing those beck and call/high paid overseas jobs it is VeRY hard to meet a man.

So good pay- but essentially you have to be single and without children of your own.

Yes I was friends with a live in nanny (well I say friends - chatted to her once a week at baby group) as she only really chatted to people like me- she had no chance of her own social life.

Of the Norlanders I knew (and I would put them mid 30s-late 40's now) who had more down to earth careers:

1. Late 40's married. Worked part time in a gym creche and then did school pick ups for a friend's children including homework supervision and light supper as parents work late (up to age 11). Her husband was well paid, so low wages weren't really an issue.

2. Early 30's married. Nannied initially then nursery then primary school teacher training after degree (I think that must have been part time around nursery work). Teaches primary school kids (state)

3. Late 30's married. Now lectures at Norland

4. Early 40's married. Nursery assistant Pre prep, then PGCE then primary school teacher prep.

I'm pretty certain they all grew up locally (but they must have found time to socialise/meet their husbands).

This is really interesting isn't it - essentially all have switched into career paths that are less well paid and they could have got to without the expensive training - presumably as the compromise needed to settle down and marry

On the flip side they might "marry well" moving in those circles?

This is exactly how I would imagine it. I don’t know any people myself but had heard of a few from friends of friends and I got this impression…

My former pupil who is 30 and earning £200k+ in the middle east is married with 3 children. Her husband is a banker - I don’t know the details but he’s either the brother or son of one of her ex clients. A lot of her more junior workforce are also married with children.

Not going to lie, the Evasive Driving Manoeuvres course intrigues me

DD has already made it clear that is being "yeeted" at the first opportunity.

That is super interesting. DD already keen on specialising in a particular field so good to know that it could work.

The nurse who did my smear last week (and therefore kept up a steady stream of distracting chat!) has a privately educated daughter who is applying there this year - it seems that the daughter's friends who have graduated from there are on staggering salaries, but it sounds like very hard, private work (NDA's abound - you can't even say who your employer is, sometimes!), and I'm not surprised that women shift out of it around 30. But on those salaries, you'd have not just a deposit, but an entire house paid off if you were sensible, by that stage.

It makes me so sad to see young women so badly paid in childcare settings, but this career path really seems to respect how hard the job is.

Well it's a proper degree (BA in early childhood education and care plus the Norland Nanny diploma) they get, so not surprised they get decent salaries. I know someone who started her training this year. She had worked for two years as a nursery assistant at a private school. I think she imagines working for a few years in some fabulous house earning mega bucks then when about 30 or so, having saved a significant amount of money, transitioning out. Uniform is dire though!

My niece is a Norlander and I can’t recommend it enough. The training is excellent and of course as well as the BA (Hons) you get the Norland diploma. Niece currently living in her own paid for flat in Manhattan and earns over £110k and travels extensively. Absolutely loves her job.

They are so well trained in everything from lifesaving, speech development, attachment theory to nutrition etc. Her friends from there are also wonderfully nice.

Yes it isn’t sustainable in the longer run after she has her own children but she can easily switch to other nursery / teaching related roles and in the meantime she’s earnt enough to buy her own property with a minimal mortgage.

People so often sneer at childcare as a career and I think it’s wonderful that Norland take it so seriously.

Surely it's obvious why? The ugly uniform is instantly recognisable as an old-fashioned prestige 'brand' (especially since the Waleses had a Norland nanny), the students need to wear it throughout their studies, so it's a commitment test to weed out anyone likely to be put off by wearing something so fugly throughout their university years when most of their peers are letting their hair down -- you're not allowed to buy alcohol, talk on a mobile phone except in emergencies or wear headphones in uniform.

Which probably makes a certain amount of sense, because in some of the high-end nannying jobs their graduates take, they've essentially sold themselves, body and soul, 24/7, to employers who are paying a premium for total compliance (as well as total capability). Hence the elaborate etiquette lessons, cookery lessons that can be adapted for either the nanny cooking all the children's meals, or giving instructions to a team of chegfs, evasive driving instruction etc. But employers are also paying for

They do not work 24/ 7 and nor is there total compliance. Many if not most live in their own separate accommodation. Unlike many other female dominated careers Norlanders hold a great deal of power. I think there is something like 6 jobs for every Norlander so they are able to pick and choose.

I agree through, the uniform and strict rules are probably to weed those out who aren’t willing to meet the high standards and if you are naturally rebellious then being a Norlander probably isn’t for you. But of course this applies to a large number of careers, for both men and women.

Would love any tips for applying- if she has any- if you are in communication with her.

Yes very much so, we are very close! I helped her with the whole process. We got in touch with some older Norlanders before we applied.

The most important thing is to convey your genuine enthusiasm for children and a career in childcare and to demonstrate that you really value supporting child development.

It is really important to have some practical experience in hand. Anything from volunteering at Brownies / Guides to work experience in a nursery or school to babysitting. At the interview you have to do a presentation but I think the key is again to display your genuine enthusiasm. I get the sense they are keen to weed out those who are more interested in the private jets and money.

Being up for the academic side is really important too as there are a lot of essays. A level psychology or similar is a huge advantage.

It is also important to show you are up for the discipline.

I went to my niece’s 21st and the Norlanders really were just like any other group of students, lots of drinking, wild dancing and revealing outfits etc. They really are quite a normal bunch despite the uniform!