NNA Research Programme

Why This Matters

Nannies play an important role in children’s earliest years, providing personalised, relationship-based care within the child’s own home environment.

Much of the learning that happens through nanny care takes place in everyday moments:

• sharing a story
• exploring outdoors
• preparing food together
• singing and music
• imaginative play
• everyday conversations
• visits into the local community

These experiences are rich opportunities for learning and development, yet home-based childcare remains underrepresented in research compared with other early years settings.

The NNA Research Programme aims to help address this gap.

Practitioner-Led Research

Supporting nannies to observe, reflect on and document the learning that takes place through their everyday practice.

Nannies are experts in their own environment. Their experiences provide valuable insight into how children learn and develop through responsive, individualised care.

Evidence-Based Research

Connecting practitioner observations with existing academic research to understand:

• What evidence already exists?
• What does this mean for nanny practice?
• Where are the gaps in knowledge?
• What further research is needed?

Knowledge Sharing

Creating accessible resources that allow nannies, families, researchers and policymakers to better understand the value of home-based childcare.

Music & Movement

Exploring how singing, rhythm and movement support communication, confidence and emotional expression.

Art & Creativity

Understanding how creative activities support imagination, identity and self-expression.

Books & Storytelling

Exploring how diverse books develop language, empathy and a sense of belonging.

Imaginative Play

Investigating how pretend play supports problem-solving, communication and creativity.

Everyday Learning

Recognising how cooking, shopping, routines and daily activities develop early skills.

Community Experiences

Exploring how parks, libraries, museums and local environments become places of learning.

All research projects will contribute to a growing evidence library containing:

• Practitioner observations
• Research summaries
• Academic evidence
• Practice guidance
• Identified research gaps

Each topic will follow a consistent review process to ensure transparency and credibility.

The research programme aims to:

Over time, the NNA Research Programme aims to become a trusted source of evidence about professional nanny practice in the UK.

By bringing together practitioner knowledge and academic research, we can build a clearer picture of the important role home-based childcare plays in supporting children and families.

Please request a research pack from us to start your contribution and being part of this exciting project for nannies in the UK. The only research programme for nannies in the world.

Every child’s early years story is unique.
Every nanny’s experience contributes to understanding it.