If you’ve ever spent your morning commute daydreaming about starting afresh with your career, this feature is for you. Each Monday, we speak to someone from a different profession to discover what it’s really like. This week we chat to Charlotte Willis, a nanny at Koru Kids…
I get paid just over minimum wage… for my current nanny job. A nanny’s salary can vary depending on experience, location, and responsibilities. With experience, specialised training, or working for high-profile families, the salary can increase significantly. Some full-time nannies can earn more than £50,000 a year, I think.
I have a pension, but not from my current nanny job… I don’t work enough hours for this job to pay into a pension, but I have another job which I do pay into one from. I’d love to retire in my 50s, but who knows!
I work 12 hours a week… but this is what myself and the family I work for have chosen. Each family has different requirements. In regards to holiday, if I need a day off or to take holiday I try to give my family as much notice as possible. I have other jobs that I do around my schedule.
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If I had to pick something I dislike about my job… I’d say tidying up toys for the 10th time in a day, but it comes with the territory, and seeing the children happy makes it worth it.
I have worked both live-in and live-out… but I am currently a live-out nanny. Sometimes it’s the case that parents work longer hours, so traditional childcare hours just don’t work for them, or they just prefer that the nanny’s close by. I know some families who wanted a live-in nanny for their newborn so they could get some support during the nights.
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Sometimes I get to go on holiday with the family… Families will usually invite me along if they’d like childcare support while travelling. We always agree on expectations in advance so it works well for everyone – it’s really important for me and the family to know exactly what days/hours I’ll be working vs what will be my downtime. I’ve heard stories of nannies ending up working really long days on holidays because the boundaries aren’t set up-front.
If I call in sick… most families understand that people get sick sometimes. Some have relatives or backup childcare, but I try to give as much notice as I possibly can.
I have formal childcare qualifications, plus first aid and safeguarding training… Some courses can be completed within months, whereas the more formal ones might take years. I think experience is usually the most valuable teacher as long as you’ve got the important bits covered like first aid and safeguarding.
I often stay with families for years… Naturally, I get very attached to the children – I celebrate their milestones as if they were my own – but I also know my role is to support both the kids and the parents.
It’s mostly a myth that children with nannies have distant relationships with their parents… In reality, nannies support families, not replace them. Children usually have strong bonds with both their parents and their nanny, my job really is to be an extension of them. I’ve never come across parents being distant from the kids, they usually need a nanny because other childcare routes don’t work for them – they might work long hours so not make it back by nursery pick-up, or want their kid at home after a long day at school instead of at a club, sometimes their child might have SEN [special educational needs] so want someone with more specialist experience.
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Nannies having affairs with one of the parents is definitely a Hollywood cliche… Professional nannies are focused on the children and maintaining trust with families. Respect and boundaries are a huge part of the job.
Having a nanny doesn’t always show a family is rich… Loads of families choose a nanny because it’s consistent, personalised care, sometimes even more cost-effective than multiple nursery places, especially if they’ve got more than one child in full-time nursery or multiple children in after school clubs. It’s about priorities, not just wealth.
Consistency is key… I always follow the parents’ preferred approach to discipline, and we talk openly to make sure we’re on the same page. It helps the child feel secure and supported. The agency I found my current job through is really keen on feedback, so they really encourage me and my family to check in regularly to make sure we’re on the same page with discipline, behaviour, boundaries, food, or anything else that might come up.
I would say screen time can be useful from the age of two… As long as it is monitored and assists learning. For example – cosmic kids yoga is lovely. It is based on stories and is fast-moving basic yoga moves alongside a story. It gets the kids moving, settled and interested in what is going on. It depends on age, but I believe in balance – screens can be educational, but outdoor play, reading, and creative activities are far more valuable.
I think the biggest area where society is going wrong with raising children is… underestimating the value of unstructured play. Children learn so much from simply exploring, imagining, and socialising. Making mistakes, falling and getting back up again, showing strength and endurance in trying again.
The fictional nanny that’s the best at looking after children is… Mary Poppins – she combines fun, creativity, and structure, which is exactly what children thrive on. Although she’s not really what nannies are like now – I definitely wouldn’t fit into a Mary Poppins nanny mould.
Got an interesting career and what to take part in this series? Email [email protected] to get in touch.
