ScotCollege in Dumbarton, on the outskirts of Glasgow, opened last year and is currently recruiting students for its second twelve-month course. Students graduate with an SVQ level 2 qualification in childcare and education and the college's Scot Nanny Diploma. The course is approved by the Scottish Qualifications Authority and on completion candidates are given the option to progress to a third level where they will obtain the equivalent to an HNC in childcare.
However, Tricia Pritchard, the professional officer for the Professional Association of Nursery Nurses, said, 'There's absolutely no way a level 2 is an adequate qualification for working in sole charge. We wouldn't like to see a newly qualified nanny, if it's only a level 2, one-year course, in sole charge of a baby. Perhaps they could work in a job where the children are older and the mother is around at home, and gain from the experience to work towards level 3. But we would be very concerned at a level 2 being sold to the nanny market as a qualified nanny.'
The ScotCollege students combine a mixture of theory and practice in order to gain their Scot Nanny Diploma, covering first aid, baby care and the individual needs of the child as well as work experience placements. They are also taught basic household skills such as cooking and sewing to enable them to perform simple domestic duties.
College principal Elizabeth Miller said, 'By achieving a Scot Nanny Diploma our nannies will not only be able to work in Scotland but will have the necessary skills to work in a number of countries in live-in, part-time or full-time positions.'
She added, 'Level 2 does not necessarily mean that we would give the person a reference for a nanny agency - it would depend on the person and whether they are ready for sole charge.
'The students do not just cover the level 2 work. They also have additional first aid in the workplace qualifications, food hygiene and life skills. There is lots of assessment involved. And, of course, it has to be considered that many nannies have no qualifications and there is no registration, whereas what we are offering does actively prepare a person to do the job.'
ScotCollege was set up by ScotNursing, a nursing and care agency supplying hospitals, nursing homes, occupational health, research, first aid provision and domiciliary care. ScotNursing chief executive Anne Rushforth has won a number of awards such as Businesswoman of the Year in 1999 and Ernst and Young Scottish Entrepreneur of the Year 2000.
A spokeswoman for ScotNursing was unable to confirm the cost of attending the year-long nanny course, but said that government funding could be available for candidates who met certain criteria through the Skill Seekers scheme for 16-to 18-year-olds, the New Deal scheme for 18-to 24-year-olds and the Training for Work scheme for those aged over 24.
