All About British Nannies
Nanny’s come in all shapes and sizes, all bringing a unique set of skills and expertise. One of our most sought-after types of nanny definitely is the British Nanny. A British Nanny, simply, is a Nanny British by birth – who ideally has done her education and qualification in Britain too.
Unique Skills of the British Nanny – British Nanny’s are particularly well-sought after for a number of reasons.
British manners
British speech, manners and understanding of service are highly renowned as one of the best, if not the best, in the world. A traditional British nanny will be extremely well spoken and polite – all skills your children can get inspired by, and learn from.
Education
Traditional British nanny’s will have been educated in high quality colleges and universities (Which are, again, amongst the highest level of education in the world). This not only means the British nanny will be educated to the highest level, but this nanny will also have contacts with the right schools.
He or she can potentially make introductions and help/advise you and your children in choosing the right schools. British nannies will know the education system first hand, making them the perfect person to guide your child through applications and help with school work and projects.
Language/Accent
A main ‘skill’ that attracts many people to hiring a British nanny, is their perfect level of English. We do not mean just perfect grammar and spelling, but also accent. The ‘Queen’s English’ is a highly desirable way of speaking, especially for people from outside of the UK looking to settle and raise their children in the UK.
Who hires a British Nanny
That leads us to the next subject: who would hire a British Nanny? Below are examples we see often – but obviously every family will have their own specific set of reasons why to hire a particular type of nanny.
International families in the UK
Although every family has their own specific preferences, British nanny’s are highly sought after by international families coming to live and settle down in the UK. Having a British nanny whilst being new to the country is a great way to get familiar with the culture and it gives your children a major advantage when learning English.
British families living outside of the UK
Lots of British families who live overseas either miss that feeling of home, or find it very important for their children to stay connected with the British culture and way of upbringing. Having a British nanny overseas can give you that feeling of home, whilst giving you the assurance that your children’s’ English language skills will stay up to date, and your family will keep in touch with British culture and habits.
Things to Look For in a Great British Nanny
Besides the Nanny being a British national, what else should you be looking for?
- Qualifications. You really want to make sure that your British nanny has been educated in the UK, or at British Schools. This is one of the main things that really makes a British nanny stand out from other nanny’s. Do not be afraid to ask for qualifications and transcripts!
- Language skills. Your British Nanny needs to speak excellent English, and ideally have the ‘Queen’s English’ accent. Also her grammar, spelling and vocabulary needs to be outstanding. This way your children can really learn from the nanny and develop their language skills.
- Connections. If you are indeed new to the UK, a British Nanny can be the perfect introduction into the British lifestyle. Check which schools she went to and what type of previous jobs she held. Is she still in touch with the schools and the former employers? And what does her social life look like; perhaps she is part of a sports club or other society that gives great opportunities for networking for both you and your children.
- Etiquette. How are the nanny’s manners, and behaviour? British etiquette is world renowned for being outstanding, so this must be reflected in the nanny. She must know British etiquette, manners, and proper greetings. In this regard, a British nanny can be a great example and inspiration for your children to learn from!
Polo and Tweed is a professional domestic staffing agency. We have many outstanding British nanny’s on our books and we know them very well – so if you have questions or need help feel free to reach out to one of our professionals.