Childcare qualifications for nannies This guide aims to provide an overview of the various childcare qualifications held by nannies. It is not an exhaustive list and, should a candidate hold a qualification which is not covered in this guide, other qualifications can be checked using OFQUAL's Register of Regulated Qualifications: http://register.ofqual.gov.uk/ and/or the Department for Education's qualification finder: https://www.education.gov.uk/eypqd/qualification-search.aspx which shows qualifications suitable for delivering the Early Years Foundation stage. It is important to remember that whilst qualifications have a shelf-life and are withdrawn after a certain period of time, this does not mean a qualification gained 10 years ago is out of date. A good nanny will have kept up to date with current recommendations. You should check the date the qualification was awarded to ensure the qualification was valid when the candidate obtained it using the OFQUAL Register. BAPN supports the recommendations of the Nutbrown review that Early Years practitioners should have received specialised training in the 0-5 age range, however this has not been made compulsory in all qualifications. BAPN recognises that not all families will require a nanny with knowledge of the 0-5 age range so this guide includes qualifications which do not meet this requirement. Titles of qualifications which do have compulsory specific content are signaled in bold. As a general rule any reputable childcare qualification should include time spent in a childcare setting gaining practical experience. All qualifications in this guide include an element of practical performance assessment with the exception of common core courses. For nannies it is obviously desirable that this be undertaken in a domestic childcare setting, however nannies who have gained a qualification such as an NVQ whilst working in a nursery are not in any way less qualified than those who were working as a nanny at the time as the competencies assessed are the same. NB Qualifications can have very similar names. Whilst BAPN recognises that the 'Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (QCF)' is suitable, we do not recommend the qualification titled 'Children and Young People's Workforce (Early Learning & Childcare) Diploma' awarded by the NCFE. Similarly the NVQ in Children's Care Learning and Development is suitable but the Certificate in Children's Care Learning and Development does not meet our recommendations because it does not have a practical component. Some qualifications with the same name are offered by multiple awarding bodies but because assessment requirements vary they may not all be suitable. If the title on the certificate does not match the awarding body listed here, please use the Department for Education's search tool to verify suitability. It is not necessary for a nanny to hold a qualification however BAPN recommends that nannies hold a level 3 qualification in line with the latest research regarding childcare practitioners. If you decide to employ an unqualified nanny, consider supporting them to undertake further training.
Common core These qualifications are the minimum required to register on the voluntary part of the OFSTED childcare register. They briefly cover what the Government consider essential skills for those working with children and their families including communication, safeguarding, multi-agency working, sharing information, supporting transitions and basic child and young person development but are not sufficiently in depth to be counted as full qualifications. CACHE Introduction to Childcare Practice (Diploma in Home Based Childcare unit 1) OCN common core skills & knowledge Level 2 Qualifications at level 2 are intended for those working in a supervised capacity with children. They may be suitable for a mother's help who, with sufficient experience, could be supported to move on to a nanny role. Preliminary NNEB diploma in Nursery Nursing Level 2 CACHE Certificate / Diploma in Childcare and Education BTEC First diploma in Early Years / Children's Care Learning and Development These qualifications were predominantly college based with time spent on placement in a variety of settings which may have included schools, nurseries, private homes, hospitals and community health settings. Students will have covered play, child development and health, working with families and health and safety for children aged 0-8. S/NVQ 2 Childcare and Education / Early Years Care and Education / Caring for Children and Young People / Children's Care Learning and Development These work-based qualifications were awarded on the basis of face to face assessments and a portfolio of work. There are mandatory and optional units and the optional units are often dictated by the constraints of the setting the student worked in at the time. Student will have covered play, children's rights and needs, learning and development, positive relationship and health and safety alongside optional units. Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce This is the most up to date qualification, based on the NVQs, BTECs and CACHE Diploma in Childcare and Education that it replaces, with several different pathways to the full diploma. Learners can be college based and go on placement or use their current workplace as their assessed setting, completing the rest of the course part time, at evening classes or by distance.
Level 3 Qualifications at level 3 are suitable for childcarers working in supervisory or sole charge positions. These are usually considered the standard for nannies. NNEB Certificate / Diploma in Nursery Nursing NAMCW Diploma in Nursery Nursing Level 3 CACHE Diploma in Childcare and Education BTEC National Certificate / Diploma in Childhood studies (Nursery Nursing) / Children's Care Learning and Development / Early Years / Childcare and Education These qualifications were predominantly college based with time spent on placement in a variety of settings which may have included schools, nurseries, private homes, playwork settings, hospitals and community health settings. Students will have covered play, child development and health, various theoretical approaches to work with children, creative studies, working with families, social, family and community issues and health and safety for children aged 0-16. CACHE Diploma in Homebased Childcare / CACHE Certificate in Childminding Practice These courses were specifically designed for childminders, and in the case of the Diploma in Homebased Childcare, nannies, with an emphasis on the theories and policies which are most relevant to home based settings as well as basic business management skills, child development for the 0-16 age range and planning for learning needs. CACHE Diploma in Early Years Practice This work-based qualification forms the academic part of the Modern Apprenticeship. Students will have covered all planning for and promoting all areas of child development, safeguarding and working in partnership with parents and professionals. S/NVQ in Childcare and Education / Early Years Care and Education / Caring for Children and Young People / Children's Care Learning and Development These work-based qualifications, like the level 2 S/NVQs are gained through practical experience and a portfolio of evidence. All students will have studied the mandatory units and three optional units, the choice of which may have been restricted by the setting. The mandatory units cover promoting all areas of child development, planning, implementing and evaluating activities, safeguarding children, working with parents and observing and assessing children's development and behaviour.
Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (Early years pathway) This is the most up to date qualification, based on the NVQs, BTECs and CACHE Diploma in Childcare and Education that it replaces, with several different pathways to the full diploma. Learners can be college based and go on placement or use their current workplace as their assessed setting, completing the rest of the course part time, at evening classes or by distance. Norland, Chiltern and Princess Christian These are 3 private childcare training colleges which deliver a nationally recognised childcare qualification alongside an additional certification. Any nanny having trained at one of the above institutions should be able to show both qualifications as a sign they have met both the external examining body's requirements and the standards set by the college. NB The Princess Christian college is no longer in operation. Montessori qualifications There are various Montessori qualifications available for study. Suitable qualifications are accredited by reputable institutions such as Montessori Centre International (also known as London Montessori), AMI or the under the umbrella of Montessori Education UK. Montessori courses tend to focus on specific age ranges, mostly commonly 2.5 or 3 to 6 years of age. If obtained in the UK, these qualifications should specify a QCF level (level 2, 3, 4 etc). Higher qualifications Level 4 and 5 NVQs and higher professional diplomas are primarily taken to develop management skills for use in a childcare setting. Certificates and Diplomas of Higher Education involve academic study at university level, often combined with practical placements. Foundation Degree and Degrees in Early Years and Childhood These are 2-4 year university qualifications, requiring students to demonstrate a good understanding of theories relating to play, development and society. The full Honours degree will have involved a dissertation or extended research project on a topic related to children or early years. Overseas qualifications There are a number of overseas qualifications which are suitable for childcarers working as a nanny. BAPN hold a list, which is too long to detail here. If you have any questions about these please contact us on info@bapn.org.uk
QTS and degrees in Education While degrees in education and the qualifications leading to QTS are not recognised as covering the common core, these candidates may be suitable nannies depending on their previous experience. They may not, however, have received Early Years specific training and have not covered the full 0-5 age range. Certificates in playwork and playgroup practice Some nannies hold qualifications in playwork or playgroup practice. Whilst these are relevant to childcare they do not cover home based childcare and are more focused on providing structured activities for children within a collective setting, with an emphasis on policies and frameworks found in those sectors. With experience and/or support these candidates should be able to apply their existing knowledge to a nanny role. A note on awarding bodies: CACHE was created from 2 bodies - the NNEB and the NAMCW. While the NNEB qualifications are recognised as 'full and relevant' by the Department for Education for nursery practitioners, NAMCW qualifications are not because there is insufficient evidence to evaluate them, however when gained NAMCW qualifications were considered as suitable for nannies and BAPN is unaware of any reason why this should no longer be the case. BTECs, S/NVQs and the Children and Young People's Workforce qualifications are awarded by a number of different bodies, including Edexcel. If you do not recognise the awarding body we recommend that you check OFQUAL's register. We hope you find this factsheet helpful and informative. If you have any questions about the suitability or validity of a qualification, or would like further guidance please feel free to contact us and we will answer your query as best we can or direct you to a source of appropriate information. www.bapn.org.uk info@bapn.org.uk @BAPN1 01622 815 271