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What is a Nanny?
Frequently asked questions about nannies
What is a registered nanny ?
The difference between a basic nanny and a registered nanny is that one has been registered with the organisation OFSTED and one has not. In April 2007 OFSTED took over the registration of nannies, OFSTED are responsible for the registration and inspection of childcare. Each OFSTED registered nanny will have a unique registration number that you can put into the OFSTED web site, this will give you information regarding that registered person.
It is still not compulsory for nannies to become registered , but it holds many advantages for the family :-
• Families can use tax credits to contribute towards the nanny’s wages
• Families can use employer supported vouchers to contribute towards the nanny's wage
• It will be easier for a nanny to obtain work
An increasing number of families are asking for an approved or registered nanny.
How does a nanny become registered ?
To become registered as a nanny (Home-based carer) through the voluntary part of the childcare register, she must have :
• Appropriate childcare qualifications
• A valid first aid certificate
• Appropriate Liability insurance
A non-refundable application fee of £100 is required and this currently includes the cost of obtaining a CRB police check. If a nanny has been asked by a family to become OFSTED registered, the family may be willing to pay for all or part of the cost. The reason for this is the family benefit from the nanny being registered, as they will be able to claim towards the price of childcare.
It generally takes between 6 and 12 weeks to become fully registered.
For more information on OFSTED and nanny registration, please go to www.ofsted.gov.uk.
Who pays the nanny’s tax and national insurance ?
When a parent employs a nanny or mother’s help they become the employer, they take on the responsibility for the payment of the nanny’s tax and national insurance.
A company called nanny tax www.nannytax.co.uk can provide parents with more detailed information and advice on this. You can also contact the Inland Revenue directly for advice, their web site is www.hmrc.gov.uk.
What are Employer supported vouchers?
These are vouchers the families employer provides them with either electronically or on paper. They can enable the parent to save money on their own tax and national insurance payments. It does not effect the nanny’s salary or amount of tax and national insurance the nanny is paid.
What is Nanny Insurance?
Having insurance provides nannies with extra protection in the event of an incident, it also provides them with legal advice if required. OFSTED Registered nannies are legally required to have insurance.
There are a number of insurance companies but two well known companies are VOICE and Morten Michel, who insure all aspects of childcare.
Car and Travel
All nannies who use their own car for work must notify their insurance company when taking out the employers children and they must have class 1 business insurance on their car. If the nanny uses her own car they will need to be reimbursed for petrol and running costs whilst transporting the children around. The general cost for this is 40p per mile.
If the employer is providing a car for the nanny to use, the employer must check with their insurance company that the nanny is covered.
Does a nanny have to have her own child car seat restraints?
Legally a nanny does not need her own child car seat restraints. It is advisable that a nanny has at least one of her own personally bought large 5 point safety harness car seats. The reason for this is, when any parent has to purchase a car seat for their own car, they need to go to a shop that specialises in fitting a car seat to that particular make of car, if the employer has a car seat that they say the nanny may borrow and place in their car, this seat has not been securely expertly fitted to the nanny’s car. In essence the seat in question, even though a good brand, may be incredibly dangerous and risk a child’s life. Also in general it is not very safe to keep taking a fitted car seat in and out of the car, it may get damaged during this process and the nanny normally has not read the manual of the correct fitting instructions.
Is it common practise for a nanny to take her own child to work with her?
These days more and more nannies have at least one child they would like to take into work with them. This has to be something that is totally down to the family who is employing the nanny. The reason for this generally is, unless the nanny has a parent who can have her child and many do not. The general price of childcare would be the same as the nannies wage so it would be pointless her working at all.
Most nannies have the view that they have looked after other people’s children full time for may be 12 years or more, it would be morally wrong for them to then have someone else care for their child while they care for someone else's. As mothers now themselves having had a baby can change the way they can care for children, not in a negative or positive way, but in a different way. This is due to the fact that they are now a mother and see things exactly from the employers perspective. They know how a employer feels about having to leave her child, how their employer feels if their child is sick, they fully understand and have empathy as to how important it is for the employer to have childcare and that finding someone to care for the children at the drop of a hat is not easy, actually employing a nanny with their own child can have an interesting plus side.
• The employers child has a friend to play with
• The nanny will be incredibly maternal towards the child after having her own
• The nanny will see things from the employers prospective
If a nanny does bring their own child to work, the employer must add both the nanny and her child/children to the house hold insurance. Please get advise from you individual insurance companies on this.
I am worried about what my nanny is doing in the day, how do I monitor this?
Employing a nanny is about trust, you must be confident that the person you employ is caring for your child in the way you would wish, saying this trust is a two way thing, a parent must also place themselves in the nannies shoes in the day, would you as a parent stay in all day looking at the same four walls, you take time out to get some fresh air for both yourself and your children and to allow your children to have some social stimulation. This is something important for a nanny as well.
Some nannies can stay up to nine years in one post, it is these nannies who have a good bond of trust with the parent and a good understanding from the parent of what they also need to be happy in a post, this all said and done, you still need to have some sort of system in place for the consistency of the child/children.
A good idea is a nanny diary, this is a book that allows the nanny to write down what has happened through out the day with such things as sleep, food, nappies, bottles. It also can be a start for a routine that the parent writes at the beginning of the diary that the nanny can follow.
Families should try to show a relaxed attitude toward the nanny, allowing her to do certain things while keeping a close eye. Allow trips to the zoo, the soft play and the park, allow play dates with other nannies and visits to toddler groups. As long as most of these outings the majority of the time are in the morning and the child is home for lunch and its nap, in general this is fine. If the nanny has an overly strict day and is not allowed to go out in the car or take the children anywhere you will, in time, lose your nanny. Maybe on occasions allow the nanny to skip the child's nap for a birthday party, lunch with your child's friend for a play date or a day out to the zoo or a country park etc. If your child is tired they will sleep in the car or pram and its only a one off, by doing this you will have a very happy working environment and a nanny who will want to stay for years to come. Providing the nanny has permission before she alters the child's routine things will work perfectly.
Discipline of the children
It is against the law for any childcare practitioner to smack or use any form of physical discipline towards your child.
Any family needs to talk in depth to their nanny regarding their discipline methods, it is very important that the child has consistency and that the parents are happy that the nanny is disciplining the child the way the parent would.
Paying your nanny
It is the parent’s responsibility to pay the nanny at the agreed time.
Nanny contract of employment
It is the parent’s job to draw up a contract of employment, this is best completed before the nanny commences her employment so that both parties are happy and can get off on the right footing.
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