Frequently Asked
Questions
What
is the benefit of certification?
The
families who use our placement services are interested in
hiring a trained professional to rear their children. As a
doctor or lawyer must be schooled before they are prepared
for their professions, such is also true for nannies and governesses.
By undergoing formal screening, rigorous academic coursework,
and extensive hands-on training, you are demonstrating your
commitment to this profession. By earning your certification,
you are perceived as the trained specialist that you are.
How
much money can I make as a Nanny or Governess?
The
monetary compensation is mostly dependent on background and
experience, although other factors such as geographic location,
number of children, living arrangements and familial expectations
also play an important role in determining wages and salaries.
The range of salary is generally $23,400 to $50,000 per year
($600-$1,200 per week for a resident nanny or governess working
a 50-hour week or $10-$20 per hour for a non-resident nanny
working a 45-50 hour week.) Benefits are often included in
full-time nanny and governess positions such as health insurance,
private quarters, and paid vacations.
Why
is it called the "English" Nanny and Governess School?
Executive
Director Sheilagh Roth was herself reared by an English nanny.
When she designed the program in 1984, she fashioned it on
the English tradition of nanny schools that have been in existence
since the nineteenth century. Initially, the intention was
to bring English baby nurses to the United States and train
them to be nannies for American families. However, the supply
of qualified American candidates was such that the American
government did not see the need in importing English nurses,
and thus the school became entirely American. Nonetheless,
the academic training and hands-on experience of ENGS still
beckons the English custom of education for professional nannies
and governesses.
What
is the practicum that accompanies the academic portion of
my training?
Every
Friday, the students are given the opportunity for hands-on
experience with a newborn and toddler. Mothers who are nurses,
doctors, or educators invite our students into their homes
each Friday for the duration of the three months and the these
women review the work and progress of the potential nannies
through logs submitted to the school. This experience is invaluable
to the students, who are able to practice skills acquired
in class with an attentive mentor who can offer advice and
assistance. The practicum includes a trip to the pediatrician
with the children as well as a variety of experiences the
nanny will no doubt encounter in her professional life.
