The law does not stipulate that nannies are required to have any particular qualifications in the field of childcare. They are exempt from compulsory registration with Ofsted (The Office for Standards in Education). However, some nannies choose to register with Ofsted voluntarily. The Ofsted Childcare Register was initiated in 2007 and sets minimum standards for qualifications and training.
Registering with Ofsted means that a nanny will have the same requirements as a person employed as a childminder; the only difference is that the nanny will look after the child in the child’s family home. A nanny does not need to be in employment when they apply to be on the Ofsted Childcare Register (OCR).
The first thing that a nanny who wishes to register should do is to set up a Government Gateway Account. Once this has been done online, the nanny can log on to Ofsted Online in order to complete a CR1 form. Registering with Ofsted costs approximately £103 annually. As part of this process, the nanny will need to get an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check, which costs approximately £52.50 annually. Appropriate paediatric
First Aid training is needed, and the nanny must find a suitable Ofsted-compliant course. A childcare qualification or Common Skills and Knowledge qualification is also mandatory. Public Liability Insurance must also be held. Once the registration application is complete the applicant will receive a letter from Ofsted accepting them onto the register, and they will be given an EY number.
Ofsted randomly inspects 10% of those who are registered as home childcarers every year, so an Ofsted registered nanny may be chosen for an inspection. Many nannies have been registered for years, however, and have never been inspected. The inspection takes about half an hour and involves being asked about documentation, the nanny’s work and also their knowledge of child protection.
The costs of Ofsted registration may be covered by the family. However, nannies must apply themselves. This process can take up to 12 weeks so it is important that the application process happens as soon as they have been offered employment.
Parents may hire a nanny who has already gone through the registration process, or they may ask the nanny to register with Ofsted once they have offered employment. Some parents will want to take on an Ofsted registered nanny so that they can use childcare vouchers as part of the nanny’s salary. Others are looking to make the most of the Tax-Free Childcare Scheme. This government initiative covers self-employed and working parents.
Employing a nanny who is registered with Ofsted offers peace of mind for parents. The DBS system is a way of checking the history of an employee for reassurance that they are safely able to work with children. In addition, nannies who are registered with Ofsted have evidence of a qualification in childcare and also hold a certificate of First Aid. All Ofsted-registered nannies hold Public Liability Insurance, which provides vital cover for the nanny should anything, unfortunately, happen to the children in their care that they could be judged responsible for.
