04-12-2024Candidate Highlight - Yan
Yan is one of our recent arrivals from Australia, she is currently placed with a love…
Nannies
Become a Nanny in London
At Smartaupairs and Nannies, we’re here to help you find a nanny role that’s as rewarding as it is fulfilling. With 20 years of recruitment experience, we take pride in connecting nannies with welcoming families who value your skills, dedication, and care.
Whether you're seeking a live-in or out position, part or full time hours, our tailored approach ensures the right fit for you. Let us support you in finding a role where you can make a positive impact on children’s lives while feeling appreciated and supported every step of the way.
- Register Your Profile
- Education, Qualifications & Skills Required
- References
- Salary Guide
- DBS
- Additional Considerations
Before you register, we recommend checking out the basic requirements.
At Smartaupairs & Nannies we work with a whole range of roles from au pair to nanny roles, which means that even if your experience does not quite stretch for a nanny role, you may qualify for the au pair program as long as you love children and are passionate about childcare.
We are also experienced in placing candidates both from the UK as well as from overseas so our support network caters for both scenarios. We know how daunting it can be to move to a new location and have tailored our support accordingly.
1. Basic Requirements
Right to Work: You must have the legal right to work in the UK, if you are not a British national - you must have a work permit that allows you to work in the UK.
Clean Criminal Record: A clear Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (formerly CRB) is required to work with children in the UK. Employers will usually request this as part of the hiring process.
2. Relevant Childcare Experience and Skills
Childcare Experience: You should have hands-on, verifiable experience with children.
References: Provide at least three recent references from previous childcare-related/nanny jobs. Two references are sufficient for junior nanny roles. Your references will be verified by our team.
First Aid Certification: Many families prefer or require nannies to have a valid Pediatric First Aid certificate. This typically includes training in emergency first aid, CPR, and handling common childhood illnesses or injuries.
***
As part of your registration, we ask you to supply at least the following:
- CV
- References - either pre-written or contact details. We will verify the references during the course of your search.
- DBS - if you do not have a current DBS, we can help apply for one.
- ID/Confirmation of Right to Work
- Registration form confirming your basic details
You will be invited to complete a detailed online form, altough we will also discuss your profile during our initial introduction call.
When you apply for your role and your CV has been selected, our team will conduct role specific interviews before introduction to help assess mutual fit.
Finding the perfect fit is important to us and due to this, we cannot guarantee introductions as the role availability depends on a number of factors.
We will however alert you the moment interesting / suitable roles match your expectations and experience.
Education and Qualifications
No Formal Qualifications Required: There are no strict educational requirements to become a nanny, but qualifications can improve your chances. Popular options include:
Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education (Early Years Educator)
CACHE Level 3 Award in Childcare and Education
NVQ Level 3 in Children’s Care, Learning, and Development
Special Training: Additional certifications, like a Safeguarding Children course, can be beneficial.
4. Essential Skills and Personal Qualities
Love for Children: You need to genuinely enjoy working with children and have the patience and energy to engage with them.
Good Communication: Effective communication skills with both children and parents are essential, including speaking a high standard of English. Families often appreciate familiarity with additional languages, especially if their household is multilingual.
Organizational Skills: A nanny must be capable of planning daily schedules, organizing activities, and handling routines efficiently.
Flexibility: Willingness to adapt to each family's unique needs and routines, including potentially working early mornings, evenings, or weekends.
Reliability and Trustworthiness: Being dependable and punctual is crucial, as you are responsible for the children’s safety and well-being.
Health and Lifestyle Considerations
Non-Smoker: Nearly all families are strictly non-smoking.
Good Health: You should be physically fit to handle the demands of caring for children, including lifting younger children and staying active throughout the day.
Driving Skills (Optional but Preferred)
Valid Driver’s License: A clean driving record and the ability to drive in the UK is often a plus, especially if the role involves school runs or taking children to activities.
Comfort with Local Driving: Being comfortable driving on the left side of the road and familiar with local traffic laws can be important for certain positions.
A minimum of two childcare references is required, however the more senior the role you are applying for, the more references we may ask as part of the application process.
We advocate for our candidates to have personal access to all their references so when we conduct reference checks, we will always give you access to your reference providers responses.
This way, you can keep a portfolio of references for easy access/application for future roles.
Pay rates depend on factors like the type of role (live-in or live-out), the nanny's experience and qualifications, and the working hours required.
Below is a guideline for average market rates:
Live-In Nanny Pay
Full Time: Average 50 hours per week + ad hoc babysitting
Part Time: Average 25 hours per week + ad hoc babysitting
Hourly Gross Rate: £12-17/h + (typically, lower than live-out due to the provision of accommodation and meals.)
Weekly Gross Salary: £500 to £750+
London Average: £14.21 per hour gross.
**
Live-Out Nanny
Full Time: Average 50 hours per week + ad hoc babysitting
Part Time: Average 25 hours per week + ad hoc babysitting
Hourly Gross Rate: £15 to £20+ per hour
Weekly Gross Salary: £650 to £1,000+ for full-time roles
London Average: £17.78 per hour gross | £889 per week for a full time role.
**
Junior Nanny
Live-In Weekly Gross Salary: £300 to £400 for junior roles (typically part-time).
Hourly Gross Rate: £10 to £12 for basic duties with less experience required
**
Part-Time or After-School Nannies
Hourly Gross Rate: £15 to £18+
Commonly employed for 20-30 hours a week, focusing on school runs, homework help, and evening care.
Key Factors Influencing Pay
Location: Central London generally commands higher pay compared to outer boroughs or rural areas.
Experience: More experienced nannies, particularly those with qualifications such as CACHE Level 3 or early childhood degrees, earn more.
Additional Skills: Bilingual nannies or those offering teaching or specialized childcare (e.g., Montessori-trained) may demand higher rates.
Flexibility: Roles requiring irregular hours or travel often pay a premium.
Useful Resources
Nannytax Salary Index
We can help you apply for a UK enhanced DBS check as part of your application.
The application fee is currently: £49.50
Ofsted Registration (Optional): Some nannies choose to register with Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education) to become eligible for Tax-Free Childcare payments or childcare vouchers. This requires additional training, a DBS check, and a First Aid certificate.
Insurance: Consider getting Public Liability Insurance to protect yourself in case of accidents or claims while working with children.