HOW TO HIRE · CHILDCARE & FAMILY

How to hire a nanny in the UK
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.

Nannies do not have to register in any UK nation, but the vetting, voluntary registers and your employer duties matter. Here is what to check and ask.

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THE 60-SECOND VERSION

Hiring a nanny in five steps

  1. Decide employed or agencyEmployed in your home, you are usually the employer: contract, payroll, minimum wage, insurance.
  2. Check the vettingEnhanced DBS in England and Wales, PVG in Scotland, AccessNI in Northern Ireland.
  3. Ask about the voluntary registerAn Ofsted URN in England lets you use Tax-Free Childcare.
  4. Phone two referencesFamilies they worked for recently, by phone.
  5. Put it all in a contractHours, pay, holiday, duties, notice, sick pay.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Check before you book

Ofsted voluntary Childcare Register (England)

In England a nanny caring for children in the family's own home, for no more than two families at a time, does not have to register. They may join the voluntary part of Ofsted's Childcare Register, which needs an enhanced DBS check with barred lists, first aid training and public liability insurance — and it is what lets you pay through Tax-Free Childcare.

Ask the nanny for their Ofsted URN and check it in Ofsted's 'check if childcare is registered' service; Ofsted does not publish nannies' names, so the URN is the route. reports.ofsted.gov.uk →

Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Wales: care in the child's own home is not childminding, and a nanny cannot be paid through the Childcare Offer; CIW's voluntary approval scheme can open other support. Scotland: a nanny working in the family's home is not a childminder, but a nanny hired by a parent is a regulated role needing PVG scheme membership. Northern Ireland: home childcare need not be registered, but a home childcarer can be approved by the Health and Social Care Trust (aged 18 or over, paediatric first aid, a childcare qualification or induction, criminal record checks), which opens childcare support.

Wales: ask whether they are CIW-approved. Scotland: ask for proof of PVG membership. Northern Ireland: ask whether the Trust has approved them. nidirect.gov.uk →

Criminal record check — DBS, PVG or AccessNI

England and Wales: childcare can get the enhanced DBS check with barred lists, and Ofsted requires it of a registered nanny. Scotland: PVG scheme membership. Northern Ireland: an enhanced AccessNI check with the children's barred list, through an Umbrella Body for the self-employed. A parent cannot apply on a carer's behalf.

Ask to see the nanny's certificate — or proof of PVG membership in Scotland — and read the issue date; a DBS certificate has no official expiry. gov.uk →

You as the employer

gov.uk says you are usually the employer of a nanny who works in your home when you take them on yourself, rather than through an agency or as a self-employed worker. That means a contract, payslips, at least the National Minimum Wage, employers' liability insurance, registering as an employer and running payroll — and you cannot ask them to become self-employed.

Agree the employment status in writing before the start date, and set up payroll or pay someone to run it. gov.uk →

VAT

Childcare is exempt from VAT only when it comes from a state-regulated provider (registered with Ofsted, CIW, the Care Inspectorate or the Health and Social Care Trust in Northern Ireland), a charity or a public body; otherwise it is standard-rated. A self-employed nanny who is not a state-regulated provider is outside the exemption — but an individual earning under £90,000 does not charge VAT and has no VAT number to give.

Agree in writing whether the nanny is your employee or self-employed; an employee's payslip never shows VAT. gov.uk →

“Are you on Ofsted's voluntary Childcare Register, and what is your URN?”

A good answer: A URN that the Ofsted check service recognises, or an honest 'no' — some excellent nannies are not registered.

“Which criminal record check do you hold, and when was it issued?”

A good answer: An enhanced DBS check, PVG membership or AccessNI certificate the nanny can show you.

“Do you have paediatric first aid?”

A good answer: A current certificate with its date.

“What would a day with my children look like?”

A good answer: Meals, naps, play, outings and learning suited to their ages.

“How do you handle discipline and screen time?”

A good answer: Approaches that match yours, discussed openly.

“Do you drive, and are you happy to drive the children?”

A good answer: Yes, with a clean licence; you add the nanny to your car policy.

“Are you expecting to be employed or self-employed?”

A good answer: A nanny in your home is usually your employee; a straight conversation about payroll.

“What notice would you give?”

A good answer: Written into the contract both ways.

Booking by the hour

  • Gross pay per hour or per week — always agree gross, not net — and the rate for extra evening or weekend hours
  • Employer's National Insurance and workplace pension on top, and the payroll service cost if you use one
  • Guaranteed hours: the minimum the contract pays each week, even if you finish early or the children are away
  • What the household provides — food, an outings budget, a car on your insurance — and what the nanny brings
  • The duties agreed before the first hour: the children's routine, nursery runs, meals, housework linked to the children
  • Holiday entitlement, sick pay and notice, any agency fee, and ID and right to work checked before day one

Walk away if

  • Insists on being self-employed while you set the hours and duties
  • Will not show a criminal record certificate
  • References you cannot phone
  • No first aid training
  • Gives a net hourly rate only, never the gross
  • Cash in hand with no payslips
LOW
£14
TYPICAL
£18
HIGH
£23

What a nanny costs: £14–£23 per hour

Nannies are paid by the hour or week as employees, with employer costs on top of the gross rate. Nanny price guide →

Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.

KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE

Nannies near you, with the badges that matter shown

ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.

Or post the job free and let them come to you, or book by the hour.

  1. Job descriptionHours, duties, children's ages, pay.
  2. Interviews and trial dayPaid trial, references phoned.
  3. ChecksCriminal record check, right to work, first aid.
  4. Contract and payrollSigned contract, registered as employer.
  5. Settling inA handover week and a review.

Gross pay
Pay before tax and National Insurance.
URN
Ofsted's reference number.
Voluntary Childcare Register
Ofsted's optional register for nannies in England.
Payroll
Running tax and National Insurance.
Employers' liability insurance
Insurance an employer must hold.
Nanny share
One nanny for two families.

AFTER

When the job is done

Keep the contract and payslipsYou need them as employer, and for Tax-Free Childcare.
Review after a probation periodAgreed in the contract.
Keep insurance currentEmployers' liability, and your car policy if they drive.
Write the reviewHonest detail about this nanny helps the next person choose. If it went badly, start with the make-it-right step so they can answer.

MONEY BACK

Grants that may apply

Help towards a nanny's cost. Tax-Free Childcare needs the nanny to be approved childcare — on Ofsted's voluntary register in England, or approved in Northern Ireland — and it can also pay the nanny's tax and National Insurance.

HMRC · GRANTVerified 16 Oct 2026

Tax-Free Childcare

up to £500 every 3 months per child (£2,000 a year); up to £1,000 every 3 months (£4,000 a year) for a disabled childthe government adds £2 for every £8 paid into the childcare account

Who: working parents of children aged 11 or under, or 16 or under if disabled

  • usually working or about to start work
  • the provider must be approved childcare and signed up to the scheme
  • reconfirm eligibility every 3 months
  • in Northern Ireland nidirect adds: each parent expects to earn at least the minimum wage for 16 hours a week, neither earns £100,000 or more, and it cannot be combined with Universal Credit childcare or childcare vouchers
Official details on gov.uk →
NORTHERN IRELAND EXECUTIVE (NIDIRECT) · GRANTVerified 16 Oct 2026

Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme

15% off eligible childcare costsapplies on top of Tax-Free Childcare

Who: parents in Northern Ireland using Tax-Free Childcare

  • you must be claiming Tax-Free Childcare
  • Universal Credit claimants are not eligible
Official details on nidirect.gov.uk →

Schemes change. The amounts above were checked on the dates shown; the official page is the one that counts.

STEP 1Raise it with the nanny as their employerTalk first, then write down what needs to change and by when. gov.uk expects an employer to discuss a conduct or performance problem informally before anything formal, and to have written disciplinary rules that follow the Acas Code of Practice (the Labour Relations Agency code in Northern Ireland); a nanny can raise a grievance with you, and may bring a companion to a formal meeting.
STEP 2Use Locufy's make-it-right stepIf you booked the nanny through Locufy and rate them under four stars, you are asked whether to send it to them first; we follow it through. Then you review.
STEP 3If the nanny's job endsFollow the notice in the contract: after a month in the job an employee must give at least a week's notice, and dismissing without proper notice is wrongful dismissal, so act fairly and keep records. Final pay includes wages owed and any untaken statutory holiday, even after gross misconduct; give the nanny a P45 and report the leaving date to HMRC through payroll. The Acas helpline (0300 123 1100) advises employers in England, Scotland and Wales.
STEP 4Booked through an agency, or self-employed?Then you are a customer, not an employer: the agency or the self-employed nanny is a trader who must use reasonable care and skill under section 49 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015. A money claim against them can go to small claims — up to £10,000 in England and Wales, £5,000 under simple procedure in Scotland, £5,000 in Northern Ireland.

Hiring a nanny: questions people ask

Not in any UK nation. In England a nanny can join Ofsted's voluntary Childcare Register; in Northern Ireland a home childcarer can be Trust-approved; in Scotland a nanny needs PVG membership.

Usually, yes — gov.uk says so when you take them on directly rather than through an agency or as a self-employed worker. You run payroll, pay at least the minimum wage and hold employers' liability insurance.

Ofsted's voluntary register needs an enhanced DBS check with barred lists in England; Scotland uses PVG and Northern Ireland AccessNI. The nanny applies and shows you.

£14 to £23 an hour, typically around £18. Employer's National Insurance, pension and payroll sit on top of the gross rate. Read the nanny price guide for the factors, then search above to see nannies in your area.

Only if the nanny is approved childcare — on Ofsted's voluntary register in England or Trust-approved in Northern Ireland. In Wales a nanny cannot be paid through the Childcare Offer.

Follow the contract's disciplinary and notice terms. A self-employed nanny owes reasonable care and skill under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

MORE GUIDES

More hiring guides in childcare & family

How to hire: Part-Time NannyHow to hire: Live-In NannyHow to hire: Night NannyHow to hire: ChildminderHow to hire: Au PairHow to hire: BabysitterHow to hire: Mother's HelpHow to hire: Maternity NurseAll 701 hiring guides →

Nannies near you

Nannies in LondonNannies in ManchesterNannies in BirminghamNannies in GlasgowNannies in BelfastAll nannies on Locufy →

Sources — checked October 2026

  1. gov.uk — become a childminder or nanny (England)
  2. gov.uk — register as a nanny with Ofsted
  3. gov.uk — choose which Ofsted register to join
  4. Ofsted — registration exemptions (England)
  5. Ofsted — check if childcare is registered
  6. gov.wales — get up to 30 hours of childcare for 3 and 4 year olds
  7. gov.uk — registering as a childminder (Scotland)
  8. mygov.scot — the PVG scheme
  9. nidirect — home childcarers
  10. nidirect — AccessNI checks for the self-employed and personal employees
  11. gov.uk — DBS checks: levels and who can request one
  12. gov.uk — employing someone to work in your home
  13. gov.uk — National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates
  14. gov.uk — Tax-Free Childcare
  15. nidirect — help paying for approved childcare
  16. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 54 — consumer's rights for services
  17. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 49 — reasonable care and skill
  18. gov.uk — solve a workplace dispute
  19. gov.uk — taking disciplinary action against an employee
  20. gov.uk — dismissing staff (fair, unfair and wrongful dismissal)
  21. gov.uk — dismissing staff: how to dismiss someone
  22. gov.uk — handing in your notice: giving notice
  23. gov.uk — holiday entitlement: taking holiday before leaving a job
  24. gov.uk — what to do when an employee leaves
  25. Welfare services and goods (VAT Notice 701/2) — 2.2.1 Care and protection of children that are exempt; 3.3 State regulated providers
  26. GOV.UK — VAT rates
  27. GOV.UK — Register for VAT: when to register