Eleanor reflects on her path from physiotherapy to nannying
7 May 2025
Newly Qualified Nanny Eleanor reflects on her route to Norland from studying physiotherapy, her experience of the supportive environment, her favourite course elements and the lifelong connections she has made.
“My name is Eleanor, I am in Set 45 and have recently begun my Newly Qualified Nanny year with a lovely family in London.
“I’ve cherished my three years in Bath, a beautiful city where I’ve formed lifelong friendships, and today I’m blessed to have a fulfilling career working with a lovely family in London.”
“For as long as I can remember, I have always aspired to care for others. Initially, this led me to pursue a career in medicine. My academic journey, including volunteer experiences, GCSEs and A-levels, was therefore aligned with this goal. However, after gaining practical experience in hospitals in the UK and abroad, I began to question whether the nature of a doctor’s profession was the right fit for me. Physiotherapy, at that time, seemed like a suitable compromise and so, at 19, I applied and was offered a place to study it at university.
“It wasn’t until after I had accepted this, that my mother showed me a Norland video that she had seen on social media. Unlike many people who choose Norland, I was unfamiliar with the concept of a Norland Nanny until this video. I have a passion for working with young children and already had a significant amount of experience including regular babysitting, caring for girls at an orphanage in Nepal, teaching children in Ghana, and assisting the children of key workers at a prep school during the COVID-19 pandemic. After watching the video, I instantly felt that I had made the wrong decision in my university application. Nevertheless, despite the appeal of what Norland offered and nannying aligning with my passion for caring for others, my existing commitments kept me from applying at the time.
“I committed to a whole year of studying physiotherapy at university but, ultimately, the emotionally charged environment of hospital placements proved challenging. With my heart not fully in it, I finally realised that a medical career was not suited to me, and I decided to pursue a different path. I dropped out of university and, fortunately, was accepted to join Norland the following year.
“Transitioning to Norland from a traditional university, where I felt lost among thousands of students, was a pleasant surprise.”
“The lecturers at Norland make a genuine effort to get to know you, understand your strengths and weaknesses, and guide you to excel through the degree and diploma course. In addition to my academic studies, the diploma allowed me to develop practical skills in cooking and sewing. Likewise, the placements strengthened my childcare expertise through exposure to varied nursery, school and family environments. Throughout all of these, I have really enjoyed being able to form close connections with lots of children, and the people looking after them.
“I found the course at Norland demanding, with a significant workload and more contact hours than required at other universities. At the same time, the course emphasises the importance of creating a loving and supportive environment for children and this ethos is reflected in the teaching methods and environment at Norland. Consequently, I found I was able to thrive.
“The challenge and commitment of studying at Norland supports you to excel, so that as nannies we can positively foster the holistic development of the children entrusted to us.”
“The course has opened my eyes to the complex and intricate development of early childhood, and the crucial role caregivers play in nurturing them for the best start in life and their future wellbeing.
“Reflecting on my journey, I’m immensely grateful for choosing Norland. I’ve cherished my three years in Bath, a beautiful city where I’ve formed lifelong friendships, and today I’m blessed to have a fulfilling career working with a lovely family in London.
“Many people may believe that nannying is an unconventional profession. However, in my opinion, the significance of the role of a nanny in shaping young lives is undeniable. It is also particularly rewarding for me to know that I will be well equipped to support my own children’s development in the future! For me, the future holds exciting possibilities, and I’m eager to see where my journey takes me.”
Discover more about studying early childhood at Norland
