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Nanny

Work in an employer's home, looking after their children and making sure they are happy and healthy.

Also known as: childminder

About skillsGetting in

About the job

Salary

Source: LMI for All

Weekly

£480

Average

Monthly

£2,080

Average

Yearly

£24,960

Average

5,900

people are currently employed

High growth

300 more jobs in 5 years

These figures refer to this job and similar ones with comparable skills and qualifications. They only apply to Scotland. Source: Oxford Economics

What it's like

You would work in an employer’s home, looking after their children and making sure they are happy and healthy.

You might often have to look after babies and very young children. You could work as a maternity nanny, helping families care for newborn babies during the first few weeks of a baby's life. You could also work with older children or a mix of age groups.

You would:

  • Feed, bathe and dress children and change nappies

  • Teach basic social skills and hygiene

  • Make sure children are safe

  • Help children to learn through play

  • Go out with children to give them new experiences

  • Take children to school or nursery

  • Plan interesting things to do

  • Take children to the doctor or to do activities

  • Organise chances for children to play with others

  • Prepare healthy meals and snacks

  • Tidy up and clean rooms used by the children

  • Keep records of the children’s development for the family

You would need an excellent understanding of health and safety, as well as food hygiene.

Hours

You would work in a private household for up to 12 hours a day, five or six days a week. In addition, you may be expected to provide baby-sitting services as and when required.

Environment

You might be a live-in nanny staying with a family in their home, or a live-out nanny travelling to them every day. Some families share live-out nannies, which would mean looking after children from more than one family. You might look after them all at the same time, or split your week working between different houses.

Travel

Many families look for a nanny with a driving licence.

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Top skills

Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!

It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.

Here are some of the skills you'll need to do this job:

  • developing a plan
  • observation
  • verbal communication
  • listening
  • supporting
  • cooperating
  • building relationships
  • positive attitude

Your skills are important

Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.

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Getting in

Explore the sections shown for more information about getting into this career.

You might have qualifications which are not shown here but will allow you access to a course. You can compare your qualifications by looking at their SCQF Level. For more information about this, check out the SCQF website.

Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.

Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:

  • Care

  • Childcare and Development

  • Skills for Work: Early Education and Childcare

  • Foundation Apprenticeship: Social Services Children and Young People

You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.

You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.

Discover what's on offer at your school on  Apprenticeships.scot.

There are no formal qualifications required to enter this work but some employers may ask for qualifications at SCQF levels 4 to 6.

You could do a Higher National Certificate (SCQF level 7) in Early Education and Child Care, a Higher National Diploma (SCQF level 8) in Childhood Practice or relevant work-based experience and qualifications such as a Scottish Vocational Qualification in Social Services (Children and Young People) (SVQ level 2/3/4) 

Entry to the HNC is normally a relevant National Certificate/National Qualification or one to three highers.

  • Qualifications and experience that demonstrate child care abilities such as Skills for Work Early Education and Childcare (SCQF level 4/5)

  • First Aid Certificate

  • Practical cookery skills

  • To be approved for membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme run by Disclosure Scotland

  • To be at least 17 years old for some college courses

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