Norland College, where our nannies are trained, has been at the forefront of Early Years care and education since 1892 when it was founded by the inspirational infant school teacher, Emily Ward.
Our students can spend up to four years gaining the qualifications and skills they need for success in their chosen careers, earning top salaries and clinching some of the most sought after positions.
Although we were the first college in the country to offer formal childcare training over 100 years ago, we want to ensure our students continue to provide the finest care to children and their families throughout their tuition and as qualified nannies.
The college has undergone several name changes and occupied a variety of premises over the years. We have been at our current location in Bath since 2003.
The curriculum has changed too, progressing with the times to offer up-to-date academic childcare training courses and the highest practice standards in line with the latest research.
From the Norland Diploma, which includes practical, work-based placements, to degree level Early Childhood Studies, we offer a range of qualifications and opportunities for the continuing professional development of Norlanders.
Keeping track of students’ learning progress
In 2012, we are embarking on a major overhaul of our IT systems, which will enable us to move away from the largely paper-based methods of managing information that we have traditionally used.
The new technology, Capita’s SIMS management information system (MIS), will enable the college to manage student information such as their attendance and achievement data electronically. This will help us ensure that our students’ learning progress can be tracked much more closely than it could in the past. It will also enable staff to focus on providing the best childcare tuition and spend less time on paperwork.With details on students and staff availability held in the MIS, the complexities of managing timetables will now be automated. With an average intake of 50 students each year, this will give us the flexibility we want to make adjustments to the college day at short notice, without increasing staff workloads.
Another benefit of the new system is that students will have access to important college announcements, timetables and details of their learning targets online. They will be able to view guidance from their tutor and notes from previous lecturers, whether they are in college, at home or working with a family in a home-based placement. This will encourage them to drive their own progress and ensure they get the support they need to achieve more, both inside and outside college.
Once students have gained their qualification, their training records will help the college’s in-house recruitment agency to match them with families that require their particular skills and support Norlanders in the workplace for many years to come.
Throughout its constant development Norland’s values have remained the same, with children being at the centre of all decisions and the Norland motto ‘Love Never Faileth’ being central to its values.
