Value-added curriculum

Alternative therapies day

This day is designed to introduce you to a range of holistic alternative therapies for children, such as mindfulness, homeopathy and reflexology.

Beach and forest schools

While studying at Norland, students have the opportunity to explore beach and forest schools first-hand. Both days are spent outdoors creating and developing a range of activities which could be carried out with children of various ages. These experiential activities are important for developing reflective practice.

Security and cyber security training

You’ll be taught security training by former military intelligence officers. The training includes lessons on how to stay safe online and how to deal with potential security risks.

Self-defence training

You’ll learn self-defence training from a highly respected 7th degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon-Do trainer who travels all over the UK to deliver training. He will provide you with a three-hour workshop in self-defence in the early stages of your training. You’ll then revisit self-defence again in your final year as a refresher, but also with emphasis on protecting your charges who may be in buggies, prams or walking.

Norland diploma activity day

First-year students spend a day devoted to the Norland diploma programme at the beach. Spending the whole day in the outdoors, they explore a range of activities transferable for use with children of all ages. A lovely way to round off the first year of study at Norland.

Skid pan driving

This is a realistic and effective process of learning skid control driving techniques and the ideal safe environment to test your car handling skills. On a skid pan driving course in your final year, you’ll learn advanced driving techniques to control a car under any circumstances, including for instance the most adverse weather conditions, handling distractions from children in the vehicle and other potential hazards and risks.

Children’s Hospice South West

Situated at Charlton Farm in North Somerset, Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) cares for children and families who live in South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, West Wiltshire, Bristol and North Somerset. The hospice is an imaginative restoration of a listed farm and farm buildings, which has retained the homely feel of the farm house and yet provides stunning and spacious accommodation. In your second year, you’ll visit Charlton Farm to gain an insight into providing hospice care for children with life-limiting conditions and their families. It will also introduce you to the environment and to volunteers who keep the hospice open through fundraising.

Guest lecture: anti-discriminatory practice

Guest speakers form an important part of our value added curriculum. Laura Henry, creator of CBBC’s JoJo and Gran Gran, delivers a masterclass on how to support children to treat others with respect, as well as how to tackle sensitive issues with children in helping to create an inclusive society.

Guest lecture: physical development

A key part of being a nanny is understanding children’s development. Norland students attend a physical development lecture which is delivered by an expert in the field. During this session the students will be taken on a developmental journey which starts by investigating reflexes and how these underpin neurodevelopment in babies and young children, and goes on to explore how physical development can support all of the other areas of learning. This knowledge will help the students to develop activities which support holistic wellbeing and physical development.