Meet Becky: our Norland Nanny open day speaker
17 February 2025
We’re delighted to introduce you to Becky, our Norland Nanny speaker at our open day!
Becky will be sharing her study experience and her career since qualifying as a Norlander during the Discover Norland presentation at our campus open day on 17 May.
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Book your placeWhat did you do prior to coming to Norland?
I completed my Level 3 in Children’s Learning and Development at college and went on to work in a nursery in a toddler room. I then moved to Australia to au pair for a year for two children. When returning to the UK, I got a job as a room leader in a baby room in a nursery before starting at Norland.
What did you enjoy most about studying at Norland?
I enjoyed the practical elements such as the variety of placements, getting to experience a range of environments, ages and needs of children. I also enjoyed the Food and Nutrition lessons and learning lots of different recipes. And of course all the friends I made!
What were you most worried about prior to studying at Norland and what advice would you give someone who has that worry now?
I was mostly worried about the jump of expectations with academic work, essays and presentations. I had taken a few years out from education so was worried if this would be overwhelming for me. My advice for anyone with this worry is that you don’t jump straight into it, you build up and learn all that’s needed to know before you are expected to write anything academic. The lecturers are there to support you and give you all the guidance and resources needed. All students are going through the same, so support each other!
What have you done since qualifying as a Norlander and what are you doing now?
Since qualifying, I moved to the US where I nannied for a two-year-old boy for two years which was so much fun! When returning to the UK, I took a few months of temporary work where I travelled to the Middle East and across Europe. Currently, I’m back in London, having recently started a new job as a retainer nanny!
What is a retainer nanny?
Retainer nanny set-ups may differ slightly, depending on the role, but typically a retainer nanny is paid a set fee to be available for childcare on an as-needed basis. They are essentially on call during these periods and readily available to step in, for example to cover sickness, holidays, travel and as needed. This offers the family flexibility and the nanny will often be paid a full-time salary (or similar) to work part-time hours as an ‘on call’ nanny.
