The study - the first of its kind for ten years - has been commissioned by the Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) in collaboration with the teaching union Voice and the National Childminding Association (NCMA). It is being carried out by the Oxford-based Social Issues Research Centre (SIRC).
The SIRC held a series of focus groups with nannies around the country this month and devised an online survey, which can be found at www.sirc.org/nannies. It seeks to establish the number of nannies in England, how many have a recognised qualification and what types of services and support networks would most benefit them.
Pauline Jones, national programme manager at the CWDC, urged nannies to respond to the online questionnaire. She said, 'At present, little information is held about the nanny workforce, in terms of its composition, qualifications held, and support and training needs. It is vital that the needs and aspirations of nannies are understood and brought into CWDC strategies, particularly for the early years workforce.'
Belinda Hay, chair of the Association of Nanny Agencies, welcomed the research. 'Nannies need to be recognised for what they do and to be recognised as professionals,' she said, adding that it would strengthen the profession if the study led to a proper register.
Tricia Pritchard, senior professional officer (childcare) at Voice, said in many ways nannies were 'the invisible professionals'. She said, 'We know they have great responsibility and that many are highly trained and motivated. But it is possible to get a job without qualifications and little training.'
Andrew Fletcher, director of communications at the NCMA, said it had a growing number of nanny members and this research would help the charity to better understand how to support them.
