36 Magazine of the National Childminding Association

Ialways wanted to work withchildren and I became an au pairin Germany for a year when I was17. Following that I worked as

a nanny in London. When I met myhusband at 19, and settled down tostart a family I decided to becomea childminder.

As my children got older and Igained more experience, along withan NVQ Level 3, I became achildminding tutor and a networkcoordinator. I was working very longhours and I began to miss the directcontact with the children, so, five yearsago, at the age of 40, I decided to giveup all my commitments and becomea nanny again. I haven’t looked backsince.

I signed up with an agency and waslucky enough to get a job with thefantastic family I still work with now.I look after three children – Hannah, 8,Dan, 5, and Mark, 4. I work two or threedays a week from 7.45am until 5pm,and for the rest of the week, I take careof my three grandchildren.

The parents are really keen that Ispend time with the children and notdoing housework, but I do make surewe tidy up after ourselves. As a nanny,you have to respect the fact that you’reworking in someone else’s home. Youalso have to be sensitive to what theparents want and the impact you’rehaving on the family.

The older children are at school full-time now, so it’s quieter during the day,and it’s easy for me to organiseactivities that really suit the childrenbecause of the very small numbers.Our days are spent painting, makingthings with play dough, socialising

with other children, going for walksand bike rides, or going on outingsduring school holidays.

I am on Ofsted’s Voluntary ChildcareRegister, keep up with my first-aidtraining, and have qualifications,training and experience from mychildminding days. Although I don’thave to follow the Early YearsFoundation Stage (EYFS), I do workaround it and cover all the areas, butI can be quite flexible. For example,I can focus on the physical or socialaspect of a child’s development if that’swhat I feel they need.

Nannies have got a long way to goto be recognised professionally in thesame way as childminders. In my localauthority there is no training fornannies that I am aware of, andnannies are not allowed to attend thechildminder training. I would like thatto change.

But, being a nanny means that I havea steady income, four weeks’ paidholiday, food provided, and expensesfor outings. I can also leave workbehind at the end of the day. Thechildren benefit by being part of thecommunity, knowing where theybelong and getting a sense of whothey are and where they fit in the bigwide world.

When this job finishes, I would like toget another job as a nanny, as I like thesecurity of being employed, working ina different community, and leaving myhouse to go out to work. Ultimately, Ilove being part of the family, watchingthe children grow and develop, andbeing there to help them reach theirfull potential.

In my own words

If you are an NCMA nannymember, or know someone who isinterested in becoming a nanny,the NCMAwebsite features lots ofuseful information. Visitwww.ncma.org.uk/nanny or call0845 880 0044 for more details.

Once her children hadgrown up and left home,NCMA member JackieEuden swapped her lifeas a childminding networkcoordinator and tutor forthat of a nanny.

Super nanny

Jackie says she loves beinga nanny as she enjoys helpingchildren to reach theirfull potential.