Professional Nanny award spurs new calls for nanny register

Katy, who works in a nanny share for three families, was presented with her award during the Professional Nanny Conference at Chiltern College in Reading last weekend.

She beat three other finalists to the title - Jaime Frow, 32, from Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, Andrea Hart, 23 from Edinburgh. and Kris Pohl, 48, from London - the first-ever male finalist for the award.

Tricia Pritchard, senior professional officer (childcare) at the education and childcare union Voice, said, 'This award is designed to showcase the valuable and important role played by nannies - a role that people often don't appreciate. All the finalists demonstrated their excellence as nannies. I congratulate the winner and runners-up on their awards, which they richly deserve.'

The union, whose members include nannies, has renewed its calls for nannies to be registered, warning of a risk that another 'Baby P' tragedy could occur.

Speaking at the conference, James Tweed of consultancy Childcare Matters said he was concerned that the Government wanted to register parents for giving lifts to children's friends for attending football clubs, but did not want to register nannies.

The Government announced last week that it is to review the Vetting and Barring scheme following a backlash from parents.

Mr Tweed told conference delegates, 'The Government wants to regulate parents who work in a voluntary capacity for a few hours a week with children and young people. Yet the Government will not properly regulate the nannies who work with children for whole days on a daily basis.

'Why is the Government so reluctant to implement a compulsory register of nannies - who want to be regulated - and instead is trying to register and regulate parents?

'The Government says that every child matters. This phrase is the cornerstone of its policies for children and young people. But the reality is that every child matters, apart from those cared for by nannies.'

He added that a nanny registration scheme would create reassurance for parents that all nannies would have to meet a clearly identifiable set of accepted competencies with minimum standards of training.

It would also mean that concerns about a nanny could also be properly investigated and nannies could be struck off the register.

But a DCSF spokesperson said, 'It is not the aim of the Government to regulate family life, and therefore it is not a requirement for a nanny to be registered when they are caring for a child in the child's own home. We would encourage all nannies to joing Ofsted's voluntary register, which includes a requirement to have a level 2 early years qualification and a CRB check, and in 2010, ISA regulation.

'The volunteer element of the Vetting and Barring Scheme which Sir Roger Singleton is looking at covers arrangements made through a third party. Decisions made by parents, including informal childcare arrangements and private nannying agreements, are not covered by the ISA. However, organisations who arrange to introduce families to nannies and place nannies with families will have a compulsory duty to ensure their nannies are registered with the ISA.'