Nursery World - Dress code

Should nursery staff wear a uniform? Sarah Jewell reports on how chains decide what their staff are going to wear Nannies and nursery nurses have a long tradition of wearing uniforms. The image of the nursery nurse dressed in a demure cotton dress and starched white pinafore endures from Victorian times when a uniform was considered essential to give the wearer an air of authority and reinforce the notion that 'nanny knows best'. Today the image has changed and the emphasis is on an informal, relaxed appearance, but uniforms are still worn in many nurseries.

Nannies and nursery nurses have a long tradition of wearing uniforms. The image of the nursery nurse dressed in a demure cotton dress and starched white pinafore endures from Victorian times when a uniform was considered essential to give the wearer an air of authority and reinforce the notion that 'nanny knows best'. Today the image has changed and the emphasis is on an informal, relaxed appearance, but uniforms are still worn in many nurseries.

One of the main reasons for wearing a uniform is to make the staff instantly recognisable to both children and parents. There are some situations where this is essential such as in a busy creche in a shopping mall where new children are dropped off every day.

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