Nanny Schools

You might feel that if you have a way with kids and parents that you’d be the perfect nanny. In many ways, this is true and your interactions with children may be all that a potential parent needs to see to offer you a nanny or au pair job. But some people are looking for something more, and this includes some experience at nanny school.

What’s Nanny School?

Nanny or au pair school is generally a short-term training program where, in addition to learning basic child care techniques, nanny and au pair students learn about safety, nutrition, professionalism and family dynamics, among other things.

The key to choosing a great nanny school is to find one that offers nationally (or internationally) recognized certifications. The International Nanny Association maintains a list of training programs and schools for nannies and au pairs that are either accredited or offer comprehensive training. The American Council of Nanny Schools is the body responsible for providing accreditation for nanny schools.

English Nanny and Governess School in Chagrin Falls, OH is a non-profit organization whose mission is to “To teach our students to challenge children to achieve greatness, in a loving and nurturing environment, to raise standards for child “educare” in the United States, and to increase the recognition of trained nannies and governesses as dedicated professionals.” More that just a nanny training program, the English Nanny and Governess School is an accredited institute of higher education, and is well respected in the field. With more than 25 years of training and placement experience, the school offers Certified Professional Nanny (CPN) and Certified Professional Governess (CPG) programs on a university semester schedule.

If you are not local to Ohio and don’t want to relocate, there are many smaller programs and schools out there for nannies and au pairs. Checking in with your local chamber of commerce or searching the Internet should put you on the right track to finding a good school. If you are concerned about accreditation and reputation, contact the INA and ask them for reviews.

One such school is all the way on the other side of the United States in Los Angeles, CA. If you even wondered where you can learn from those proper British nannies that you see on TV, the British Nanny Academy is the place. Founded by an actual British nanny, the academy offers night time classes convenient to currently employed nannies and au pairs who are looking for extra enrichment opportunities as well as a full twelve-week training course.

If you are located outside of the United States, there are a number of prestigious schools and training programs in Indonesia, India and the Dominican Republic.

Nanny and au pair school and training is not cheap, and you’ll have to make the decision of whether or not it is an investment worth making. Many nannies and au pairs who have completed a nanny training program can charge more competitive rates, or leverage their education for more benefits than other nannies. However, having graduated from nanny school is not a guarantee of a higher salary. If you’re looking to become a nanny or au pair to make some quick money, taking time to enter a training program or nanny school may not suit your needs.