- Childcare and child development experience
- ability to plan and arrange safe, fun learning opportunities
- nutrition – planning and preparing healthy meals and snacks
- first aid training
- driving experience if required
- organisational skills
- Interest in children as individuals
- confidence
- resourceful personality
- Experience:
- How long have you been a nanny?
- what ages of children have you worked with?
- why do you enjoy working with children?
- what do you think are your particular strengths when working with children?
- have you undertaken any training in childcare and development and, if so, how long were the courses?
- what qualifications do you have?
- are there areas of your work that you plan to improve?
- what would you do if...(invent a family crisis)?
- what aspects of this particular job do you think you will enjoy?
- how might you spend the day with my child?
- do you think your childhood helped you to become a good nanny?
- why did you leave your last job?
- what difficulties have you experienced as a nanny with parents or children and how were they resolved?
- what are your views on families sharing a nanny? (If you want to set up a nanny-share)how many days have you had off sick in the last 12 months?
Discuss with your potential nanny:
- the wage or salary (with details about tax and National Insurance arrangements);
- how payment will be made, monthly or weekly, by cheque or directly into a bank account, etc;
- the hours and duties of the job;
- when you would want her to start;
- what do you think are your particular strengths when working with children?
- holiday entitlements and whether she would be willing to take them at certain times – e.g. to fit with school terms or your annual leave;
- length of probationary period;
- positive discipline strategies – a trained childcare worker would never use physical punishment as a form of discipline;
- child safety: in the home (including dealing with pets); when using public transport; and where appropriate when using the car (seat belts, car’s capacity, etc.)
(published with permission in writing from:http://www.childalert.co.uk)
