Making sure your child is safe, well cared for and happy is one of the biggest concerns of any parent. It can be very stressful leaving your child in someone else’s care and this is an extremely important decision you will have to make. There are no legal requirements on a person applying to work as a child carer, so it is up to you, as parent and employer, to ensure that you are employing a person who will look after your children well.

We take pride in our professional, thorough approach to recruiting only the best candidates and we can advise you on the most appropriate childcare solution for your own circumstances. All child carers registered with Coralis Childcare Agency have to go through a strict screening process; they are interviewed in person in order to best assess them and their identity, references and qualifications thoroughly checked.

There are a few points to remember once you have decided on the type of child carer that you require. Please remember that you are ultimately responsible for deciding on the person you wish to employ. Although we endeavour to provide only applicants of the highest standard, we advise parents to also check the documentation and references personally and satisfy themselves with the suitability of a candidate.

Please be aware that nannies talk NET salaries (usually weekly rate), not gross. You are responsible for paying Income Tax and NI contributions on top of that (find out exactly how much it will cost you at www.nannytax.co.uk).

The cost of childcare varies considerably depending on the type you choose, availability in your area, your geographical location and the age of your child/children. Formal childcare is not cheap, but caring for children is a highly responsible job and one that should be taken seriously.

Types of childcare

Nannies are usually qualified and experienced in looking after children of any age and should provide plenty of fun and learning opportunities in the safe environment of your own home. A nanny would take sole charge of your children in your absence.
The nanny is expected to be responsible for all aspects of a child’s life, including having a knowledge of First Aid. This also includes organising the child’s meals, clothes, laundry, bathing, cleaning the nursery and stimulating the child’s mind and imagination. She does not usually do other housework. A nanny can work up to 12 hours a day and usually has two days off per week, as well as 4 weeks/year paid holiday and bank holidays off. Babysitting and extra hours are by prior arrangement and paid extra.

Live-in nannies live with the family they are working for, who provide them with food and a private bedroom in addition to their salary.
Daily nannies come to the family home each day.
Nanny-share is an arrangement where two families (or more) share the employment of a nanny.
Nanny/housekeeper is a nanny who combines childcare with general household duties.

Mother’s helps are unlikely to have formal childcare qualifications but may be experienced. They usually work alongside the parent helping with childcare and general household work. It can be a way for the parent who may be at home during the day, to be able to come and go without worrying about leaving the children for short periods of time.

Maternity nurses are trained and experienced nannies who can take care of new babies for up to three months after the birth. They are on call 24hrs a day and will usually work 6 days/week, employed on a short term basis. A good maternity nurse can provide physical and emotional support during the first few exhausting weeks following the birth of a new baby.

Au pairs are usually single young women (occasionally men) from a number of European countries. They come to the UK to study English, live with a family and help out in the home for a maximum of five hours a day. In exchange, they must have two days off and be provided with a weekly allowance (around £50+), meals and their own room. Au pairs are not registered or usually trained to work with children so are generally considered inappropriate to care for a young baby, but can be a good option when it comes to providing affordable after-school care.

Qualifications