Eleanor shares her career with a charge with SEN

Norland Nanny Eleanor discusses her journey since graduating from Norland, her work with a charge with special educational needs and disabilities, and her career aspirations.

Norlander Eleanor (Set 37) has worked in a variety of nannying roles since graduating from Norland, and is currently training as a primary school teacher.

“My name is Eleanor and I graduated from Norland as a member of Set 37. I loved my time at Norland and feel that the training and experience I gained during college were invaluable, equipping me with a wealth of knowledge, understanding, and the skills to be a confident and passionate early years practitioner.

“A particular highlight of my training was the practical placement element. I have especially fond memories of my time spent in a specialist SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) school in Bath, where I was able to further develop my passion for supporting children with SEND. Working in this specialist setting helped me to develop skills I would need later in my career when I took on a hybrid role as a nanny and 1:1 support in school for my charge with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

“Training at Norland has provided me with a range of specialist skills. Not only do I feel I gained in-depth pedagogical knowledge, but I also developed practical skills such as cooking, sewing, and hands-on experience that have prepared me well for a career in early years education and ensured I am confident in my abilities.

Norland students in formal winter uniform standing outside of a building

“Since graduating from Norland, I have been fortunate to work with three incredible families, all based in London. I am so thankful to each of them for trusting me to care for their children and for always making me feel like a part of their family.

“My Newly Qualified Nanny role was with a wonderful family caring for their lovely little boy, who was two when I started. I was lucky enough to support them through the transition of welcoming a new baby to the family via surrogacy, which was an incredible experience to be part of.

“My second role gave me the opportunity to gain experience working with a family with multiple children, as I cared for three boys aged 5 and under. It was a very busy role and helped me grow in confidence immensely. I worked within a dynamic household, supporting the children through multiple transitions, such as moving from nursery to school, welcoming a new sibling into the family, and adjusting to new routines and milestones.

“The confidence I gained at Norland has stayed with me throughout my career and supported me in pursuing new opportunities.”

“However, my latest role was where I truly felt all my SEND experience and passion as an SEND practitioner came together. I worked for the most incredible family who have a son with a diagnosis of ASD. I began the role as the child’s nanny and was later trusted with the responsibility of working as his 1:1 support at school for the past two years.

“He is the most amazing little boy – talented, funny, and kind – and I feel so lucky to have been trusted to be his nanny, and able to support him in both his daily and school life. Working with him at school was an incredible experience and allowed me to celebrate his achievements daily. Watching him develop his confidence, become an independent learner and achieve whatever he sets his mind to, is something I will cherish forever

“The experiences I gained at Norland supported me in feeling confident in my role. I am grateful for all the practical experience I had when transitioning into the role of my charge’s 1:1 support. I was especially thankful for the range of practical placements I had experienced during my initial training, including various school settings. The experience I gained in both a specialist school and a mainstream school developed my practice and skills, ensuring I felt confident in my ability to transition into a supportive teaching role and now into my own teacher training.

“The confidence I gained at Norland has stayed with me throughout my career and supported me in pursuing new opportunities. This has led me to begin my primary school teacher training this year and I hope to continue supporting children with SEND, with a passion for ensuring all pupils in my class are understood and supported.

“I would urge anyone considering a career in early years to consider Norland. The training offers so many opportunities, and it truly opens doors in ways that are unique. Norland training is one of a kind.