In 2012, Professor Cathy Nutbrown published her landmark Foundations for Quality review into early years qualifications. Commissioned by the government, the review aimed to investigate how well childcare and early education qualifications were preparing people to work with young children.
Professor Nutbrown’s findings were striking. She concluded that:
- Standards across childcare qualifications were inconsistent.
- Literacy and numeracy requirements were too low, leaving some practitioners underprepared.
- Vocational courses in early years were sometimes less rigorous than unrelated courses. As she starkly put it, “a qualification in early years should carry at least as much weight as a qualification in animal care — but too often it does not.”
- There was a lack of professional identity for early years practitioners, which undermined the importance of their role.
The review made 19 recommendations, including raising entry requirements, ensuring training was practice-based, and strengthening induction and mentoring for new staff. Nutbrown also highlighted the need for clear professional pathways and better recognition of the vital role childcare professionals play in children’s lives.
And yet—over a decade later—very little has changed. A Sutton Trust follow-up in 2020 found that only around five of those recommendations had been implemented. Government promises of reform never materialised.
The result? Confusion across our sector. Families and practitioners alike are still unsure what qualifications really mean, what standards to expect, and what “quality” looks like when it comes to nannies.
Why Nannies Need Clarity
Unlike nursery and preschool settings, nannies continue to operate without clear national regulation. In fact, the nanny industry has never had any official guidance on qualifications. This lack of direction has left the profession vulnerable: parts of the industry have become lacklustre, with nannying wrongly seen by some as an “easy option.”
But let’s be clear: being a nanny is not the easy option. It requires skill, dedication, and resilience to support children’s learning and development while working independently in the most personal of environments — a family’s home.
Without a framework, nannies have had to navigate this ambiguity on their own. Families, too, have been left without reassurance, often relying on little more than trust when choosing a nanny.
Our Solution: The National Nanny Register
This is why the National Nanny Association has launched our own National Nanny Register. Where government has failed to act, we believe it is time for the profession itself to step up and set the standard.
To join the register, nannies must meet a clear set of professional requirements:
✅ Enhanced DBS on the Update Service – ensuring safeguarding is up to date and verifiable.
✅ Minimum Level 3 qualification in Childcare and Education or Homebased Childcare (nanny route).
✅ Paediatric First Aid qualification – so nannies are prepared for emergencies.
✅ Valid nanny insurance – protecting both families and nannies.
✅ Food Hygiene qualification – ensuring safe preparation of children’s meals and snacks.
✅ At least 6 months’ practical experience in a childcare role.
✅ Written reference to evidence professionalism and reliability.
What This Means for Families
For parents, the register provides peace of mind. A nanny who is registered has been checked, vetted, and has demonstrated both their qualifications and their practical ability to care for children safely and effectively. It removes the guesswork, replacing uncertainty with confidence.
When you welcome a nanny into your home, you are trusting them with the most important people in your life—your children. The register ensures that trust is backed by clear, professional standards.
The Myth: Connection is Enough
One thing we often hear from parents is, “As long as the nanny has a connection with the children, I’m not worried about qualifications.”
Of course, connection matters enormously. Children need to feel loved, secure, and happy in the care of their nanny. But qualifications are not about “taking over” or replacing the role of parents — they are about equipping nannies with the knowledge and skills to keep children safe, healthy, and thriving.
Think of it like this: you wouldn’t choose a surgeon only because they have a lovely bedside manner — you’d want them to have the medical training too. In the same way, the best nannies bring both: a warm, loving bond and the expertise to back it up.
We also recognise that many nannies have built long and successful careers without formal qualifications. Their experience is invaluable. But the reality is that without a recognised standard, families cannot always understand or compare a nanny’s level of knowledge. That’s why the Level 3 qualification is our benchmark: it sets a clear, consistent bar across the profession.
For experienced nannies who don’t yet hold a Level 3, there are accessible routes to achieve it. The Level 3 Homebased Childcare (nanny route) course, for example, can often be completed in as little as 8 weeks. This means seasoned professionals can quickly gain formal recognition for the expertise they already demonstrate every day.
Our message is simple: experience is powerful, connection is vital, but qualifications give parents the reassurance they deserve — and our profession the recognition it needs.
What This Means for Nannies
For nannies, the register offers recognition. It gives you a platform to show families that you are committed to professional excellence, that you have invested in your training, and that you take your role seriously.
It also raises the profile of nannies within the wider early years sector. By meeting these standards, you align yourself with a profession that is demanding the respect it deserves and actively shaping its own future.
Leading the Way as a Profession
If the Nutbrown Review taught us anything, it is that relying on government reform leaves us waiting indefinitely. Our children deserve better. As an industry, we cannot afford to stand still while policy drags behind.
That is why the National Nanny Association is taking ownership of our professional standards. The register is not only a tool for clarity—it is a statement of intent. We are guiding our industry to excellence, raising the bar for what it means to be a nanny, and giving families the confidence they deserve.
Ten years ago, Nutbrown called for better. A decade later, we are answering that call ourselves. Join the National Nanny Register today and help build a safer, reliable and strong nanny industry in the UK.