Choosing your childcare
Confused about the different childcare options available? We’re here to help.
Deciding on the right childcare for you and your family can be overwhelming. But help is at hand. As a specialist nannying agency with over 35 years of experience in nanny recruitment, we explain everything you need to know about the different childcare options so you can find the best nanny for your family.
Childcare Options
There are many different options when selecting your nanny, from full time nannies to part time nannies through to nanny housekeepers.
Ultimately, it is important to understand what each of the different options are and the roles and responsibilities of each type of nanny, so you can find the nanny that is best suited to your needs as a family.
As always, as an expert nannying agency, our team at Hummingbird Home Staff will be happy to discuss everything with you to help you understand more about each option.
What Are the Different Types of Nannies?
Full-Time Daily Nanny
These nannies will usually work in a sole charge role, typically between 8.00am – 6.00pm, Monday to Friday.
Their duties could include things such as taking care of the children, planning activities, school or nursery runs, preparing meals for the children, doing their laundry and keeping the children’s play areas and bedrooms tidy.
However, it’s important to note that a nanny should not be expected to do any heavy housework, family cooking or any other chores not related to the children.
Nanny Housekeeper
If you need a nanny who can help with housework and other household chores, a nanny housekeeper could be the right solution for you.
As you may have guessed, a nanny housekeeper has two distinct areas of responsibility: one is for the care of the children, and the second is for the home. In most households that require this role, the children spend a significant amount of time at school or nursery, allowing the nanny/housekeeper to take care of the daily housekeeping tasks in their absence.
Their childcare responsibilities are the same as those of a nanny, however, in addition they are also responsible for the general upkeep of the home as well as duties such as making beds, doing the family’s laundry, changing bedding, vacuuming, and polishing.
It’s important to note that when hiring a nanny housekeeper, the duties should be agreed from the beginning and should be included in their contract of employment.
Part-Time Daily Nanny
A part-time daily nanny will usually work in a sole charge role, covering any daytime hours needed by the family. This would typically be between four to six hours per day, every day, or full-time hours two or three days per week.
A part-time nanny’s duties would be exactly the same as a full-time nanny.
Live-In Nanny
A live-in nanny will live with the family and will typically work longer days, usually between the hours of 7.00am – 7.00pm, Monday to Friday. Their duties are the same as a full-time nanny.
The biggest difference with a live-in nanny is that will obviously require a bedroom and bathroom of their own, although, in some cases, they can share the bathroom with the children. Separate accommodation, like an annex, could also be provided as part of the package offered to the nanny.
In all cases, the accommodation should be furnished, contain a television and a DVD player, have a desk and good storage space. With live-in nannies, house rules should be made clear from the start and also be in the nanny's contract of employment to ensure things go smoothly for everyone.
How much your nanny should be paid?
One of the most common questions we’re asked as a nannying agency is how much your nanny should be paid.
The amount you pay your nanny will be influenced by many factors such as their experience and qualifications, the hours worked, the duties you expect them to take over and above those normally expected, and the value you place on their contribution to your family.
As a guide, you can expect to pay in the ranges set out below, subject to experience.
Full-Time Daily Nanny
Full-time nannies in the UK can expect to earn from £25,000 - £55,000 per annum, depending on qualifications, experience, the number of children they are responsible for, and location.
Part-Time Daily Nanny
Part-time nannies are typically paid on an hourly rate, which usually ranges from £9-£25, again depending on experience, qualifications, and experience.
Live-In Nanny
Similarly to full-time nannies, live-in nannies can expect to earn between £25,000 - £55,000 annually, depending on experience
Nanny/Housekeeper
A nanny housekeeper will usually earn more than a regular nanny due to their additional responsibilities. Generally speaking, a nanny housekeeper can expect to earn £25,000 - £65,000 per annum, depending on experience and responsibilities.
Don’t forget, these figures are a general estimation of the net pay to a nanny, and as such you should always factor in the tax and national insurance contributions you will have to pay as well to get the overall cost.
As a specialist nannying agency, our team are always on hand to advise on salaries – or alternatively, why not use our tax calculator to generate the full weekly figure.
Nanny Qualifications
But what about qualifications? When inviting a nanny into your home, you will want to be sure they have the necessary qualifications and experience.
Here is a little guide to help you understand the qualifications that nannies can have and what each means:
NNEB (now known as DCE - Diploma in Childcare and Education)
The Diploma in Childcare and Education is probably the most recognised childcare qualification. It is a two-year, full-time course that provides an in-depth knowledge of all aspects of the physical, educational, social, and emotional development and needs of a child in its early years, from newborn to seven years old.
It also provides training in health, nutrition, hygiene, first aid and activity-based learning appropriate for each age. Additionally, students will experience regular, hands-on training in placements such as nurseries, schools, hospitals and families within a home environment.
Norland, Princess Christian and Chiltern
Norland, Princess Christian, and Chiltern are private colleges which have their own nurseries on site for practical training. Students reside at the college for two years.
The course content is the same as the DCE qualification, but in addition the student must complete a six to nine month probation period working as a nanny within a family. Once the probation period has been completed, the student gains the DCE (NNEB) and a diploma from the Royal Society of Health.
National Vocational Qualification (NVQ)
There are several levels of NVQ qualifications, and each level takes two years to complete. The courses cover both practical and theory training over the two years, and students are constantly assessed throughout.
The courses cover many aspects of childcare including physical, emotional, and educational development.
A person who holds an NVQ level 3 would be best suited to a sole charge role as this is equivalent to the NNEB. Someone who holds an NVQ level 2 would best suit a role such as a mother's/father's help where they work alongside the parent in a supporting capacity.
BTEC (formally National Diploma in Child Studies)
This course is very similar to the DCE (NNEB) but has a more academic focus and a less-hands on, practical element.
It covers a wide variety of subjects and students will gain skills in teaching, nursing and social work but will gain a more academic qualification with some practical experience. The BTEC is a CACHE course run by the Council for Awards in Childcare Education.
Choosing your childcare with the help of a nannying agency
If you need further help and advice finding the right childcare solution for your family, look no further than Hummingbird Home Staff.
As one of the top nannying agencies in the UK, our team have years of experience helping families find the right childcare support for their needs.
So, from full-time nannies to live-in nanny housekeepers, let our expert team take the pressure off and help you find peace of mind for you and your family. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help.