Employing a Nanny is a rewarding and important decision for any family. To ensure the arrangement runs smoothly, it’s essential to have clear agreements in place and a shared understanding of expectations from the very beginning.

From contracts and accommodation to working hours, holidays, and day-to-day duties, setting out these details upfront helps create a positive, professional, and lasting relationship between Nanny and family.

Accommodation Options

A live-in Nanny should always be provided with her own bedroom and bathroom. In some cases, separate accommodation away from the main house may be offered, which allows both the Nanny and the family greater privacy. “House rules” should be discussed and agreed upon before the start date to avoid any misunderstandings.

Working Hours and Holiday Entitlement

Working hours vary depending on the role but are typically 10–12 hours per day over a five-day week. Live-in Nannies generally include one or two nights of babysitting per week, while daily Nannies would receive additional pay for babysitting. Families requiring 24-hour care often opt for rota Nannies, who work on a scheduled shift basis.

Holiday entitlement should be confirmed in advance, though it is usually a minimum of four weeks’ paid leave per year, with Bank Holidays either off or paid in lieu.

General Duties

• Plan and organise the children’s daily schedule

• Prepare and cook healthy, balanced meals

• Establish or follow routines, including nursery/school runs, extracurricular activities, and social visits

• Keep parents regularly updated on progress and daily activities

• Organise stimulating, fun, and outdoor activities

• Support children’s development at every stage and encourage learning

• Build a close and trusting relationship with the children

• Ensure children are supervised and safe at all times

• Keep children’s bedrooms, bathrooms, play areas, and kitchen clean and tidy

• Teach and encourage good manners and social behaviour

• Support consistent discipline in line with parents’ guidance

• Maintain toys and child-related equipment, putting everything away neatly after use

• Follow or establish bedtime and bath time routines

• Wash and iron children’s laundry, ensuring uniforms and clothes are ready for the next day

Recognised qualifications include:

• QTS (Qualified Teacher status)

• Teacher Training Certificate

• PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education)

• EYFS (Early Years Professional Status)

• MA in Education

• BA in Education

• TEFL Certificate (Teaching English as a Foreign Language)