Meet Imi: our Norland Nanny open day speaker

We’re delighted to introduce Norland Nanny Imi, who will be one of our speakers at our open day on Saturday 16 May!

During the Discover Norland presentation, Imi will reflect on her time studying at Norland and her career since qualifying as a Norlander.

If you haven’t booked onto our open day yet, you can sign up via the button below.

Already registered your place? Find out more about attending an open day

Book your place

What did you do prior to coming to Norland?

Before I started training at Norland in 2016, I was at sixth form studying fine art, textiles and photography. I knew that for my conditional offer to get into Norland, all I needed were certain grades, but it wasn’t subject dependent. So, for the last two years of my school education, I decided to focus on the things that made me happy, and I knew they would be skills I could take with me through Norland.

Outside of school, I was a nanny to three boys at the weekends. In addition to their incredible parents, they were the reason I was so firm in my choice that becoming a Norland Nanny was my dream job. I wanted to continue being part of other children’s lives, even when the wind changed direction (as it did for Mary Poppins) and they wouldn’t need me anymore.

Those boys are now aged 13, 18 and 20, and to this day they are still a huge part of my life.

A Norland Nanny in uniform stood in front of a display at the Bath Assembly Rooms

What did you enjoy most about studying at Norland?

During my time at Norland, I became extremely unwell and the level of support and care from lecturers, staff and fellow students was incredible. Norland was, and still is, truly a big family. Everyone there had the same ambition and drive to become the best early years professional they could be.

The balance of lectures and placements helped me develop my time management, which was a really great life skill to build, especially when I had medical complexities thrown into the mix too.

The lecturers were amazing with their support and were there for you whenever you needed them. Having all this around me while I was training meant I was able to focus on what was most important.

A female holding a Wallace and Gromit cake

What were you most worried about before starting? What advice would you give to someone who has that worry now?

Before starting in my first year, we had a number of meet‑ups and this gave us the opportunity to form friendships before our first day so it didn’t feel so daunting. This really helped me with my worries about finding like‑minded friends.

That feeling went away extremely quickly and, to this day, the friendships I formed before my first day are still the ones I have now. We continue to celebrate each other’s successes and are always there for one another. Due to the sheer number of time zones we span now, there is always someone awake if I need someone to talk to.

A female stood smiling in front of a garden

What have you done since qualifying as a Norlander and what are you doing now?

I started my Newly Qualified Nanny (NQN) year just before the pandemic began. I look back and am so grateful for every single experience I had with this amazing family, as it shaped who I am as a Norland Nanny today. I moved on from my NQN family after 18 months.

My new position didn’t require the same level of travel or hours as my previous family, and I was looking to be closer to home. It also came with the most perfect little annex, and my favourite part was waking up at the weekend to find little notes from the children.

But the itch for something extra was always there.

So, this is where you find me now. I moved to a farm in Western Australia almost three years ago and have built my life here in a small regional town that offers the perfect work–life balance. I love my job; we have built a strong team together. I am so thankful that my huge leap of faith — and theirs — worked out so well.

I still make sure to visit my former charges in the UK when I am back, but for the foreseeable future you’ll find me at a beach or exploring the endless wonders this part of the world has to offer.

An adult and two children sat in the back of a car with their legs outstretched in front of the sea

What do you love most about nannying?

What’s not to love about spending 10 hours a day with your mini besties, who continue to show you how to look at the world through their eyes and question everything?

Seeing their passion for learning and exploring is exactly why I love being a nanny. No day is the same, which continually keeps you on your toes.

Each child I have cared for holds a special place in my heart and, even though I may not be with them for 60 hours a week anymore, I won’t stop celebrating their successes no matter how big they get!

Norland has allowed me to explore parts of the world I could only have dreamt of visiting. All the hard work was totally worth it, now that the world is my oyster. It’s true what all graduates say: it is the fastest four years of your life. Enjoy every moment you have there.