By Zara Smith, Coram PACEY Writer/Editor

Becoming a nanny is a rewarding career choice for those who are passionate about working with children and supporting families. It offers the opportunity to play an important role in a child’s development while building close, trusting relationships with parents. However, the path to becoming a nanny involves more than just a love of childcare — it requires understanding the responsibilities of the role, meeting registration/approval requirements should you choose this route, and deciding what type of nanny career best suits your lifestyle and professional goals. This guide will walk you through the advantages and considerations to help you start your journey as a nanny with confidence. 

Registration/approval as a nanny 

Registering in England with Ofsted or joining the CIW Voluntary Approval of Home Childcare Providers in Wales as a nanny is an important decision that can shape your career opportunities, daily responsibilities, and relationship with families. While registration/approval brings clear benefits, it also introduces challenges that may not suit everyone. Detailed below are the advantages and considerations of registering/joining the approval scheme to help you decide if it is the right path for you. 

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Advantages of registration/approval

• Professional credibility: Registration demonstrates accountability and signals to families that you meet recognised standards of childcare. 

• Improved employability: Many parents prefer hiring registered nannies, which can give you a stronger chance of finding work. 

• Parental reassurance: Inspections, training, and formal checks give families greater confidence in your care. 

• Access to government schemes: Families can use Tax-Free Childcare or childcare vouchers with registered nannies, making your services more affordable and appealing. 

• Commitment to best practice: The process encourages regular training and professional development, helping you stay up to date. 

• Contribution to industry standards: Registration helps raise overall expectations and quality across the childcare sector. 

Considerations of registration/approval

• Costs involved: Registration/approval fees, annual renewal, and training requirements add ongoing expenses. 

• Extra paperwork: Administrative tasks such as record-keeping and compliance forms can be time-consuming. 

• Regulatory obligations: Registered/approved status comes with stricter rules that you must consistently follow. 

• Risk of deregistration: Not meeting required standards could place your registration/approval, and reputation, at risk. 

• Inspection stress: Formal inspections can be daunting, even for experienced nannies. 

• Ongoing maintenance: Certificates and training must be updated regularly to remain registered/approved. 

• Parent choices: Some families may still choose unregistered/unapproved childcare because it is less expensive, limiting your advantage in certain cases. 

Final thoughts 

When deciding whether to register, consider your career goals, whether you want to stand out as a professional nanny and whether you are comfortable with inspections, regulations, and administrative tasks that come with registration/approval. 

You should also consider how important it is for you to offer parents access to government childcare schemes. Finally consider if the long-term professional benefits outweigh the costs and responsibility of keeping your registration/approval up to date. 

For nannies, registration/approval can open the door to more job opportunities, professional recognition, and greater parental trust. However, it also brings costs, administrative demands, and the stress of ongoing regulation. The decision to register/join the approval scheme ultimately depends on whether the advantages of professional credibility and employability outweigh the other considerations of maintaining registration/approval.