A Maternity Nurse/Night Nanny is someone who is qualified or
experienced in working with newborn babies. They can be employed
to work on a daily or nightly basis and on average are booked for 2-6
weeks following the birth. Very useful for new mums and dads and
Reference Check
those who are sleep deprived.
1. How long has or did the
candidate worked for you? Babysitters can provide childcare on an hourly basis during the day
2. How many children were but most often in the evenings. There are some agencies, which will
they responsible for? What provide a referral service for a small fee. Alternatively, nursery teachers,
were their ages? nannies, and other childcare specialists may also be interested in part-
3. What were some of their time services. If hiring young people, it is interesting to note that
strengths? What did you like people under 16 cannot be responsible for any harm that happens to a
about them? child in their care
4. What did you like least?
5. How did they cope with any Day Nurseries can provide care for children from as young as 3 months
emergencies? of age, and can be a good alternative for working parents or those who
6. What were they like to live need some additional help. There are either part-time or full-time
with? (if applicable) places, and are usually open from 8am to 7 pm. There are private (paid
7. How did they deal with any for), community (not-for-profit, usually for local families, and with
problems between you? lower fees), workplace (offered by some employers) and local authority
8. Were they on-time for work? (for families in need).
Did they take any sick days?
9. How would you describe Nursery Schools care for children from 2 - 2½ year-old up to school age
their personality (i.e., take- (children usually have to be toilet trained). They usually have the
charge, out-going, quiet, same term dates as schools and sessions last from 3 to 6 hours per day.
reserve? Both Nurseries and Day Nurseries must be registered with
10. Were they good at Ofsted who will make regular inspections to ensure that health
following directions and and safety requirements such as number of trained staff, class sizes
taking feedback? and child to adult ratio regulations are being maintained. By far
11. Were they flexible? the largest group of nurseries are those that are privately run.
12. Did they have any
additional responsibilities, Home Alone
such as laundry, cleaning, etc? Although the law does not state an age when children can be left
13. Why did they stop alone, parents can be prosecuted for wilful neglect if they leave a child
working for you? unsupervised “in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or
14. Are they organised? injury to health.”
15. Would you hire them again According to the NSPCC (National Society for the Protection
if the opportunity arose? of Cruelty to Children), there is no set age at which it is ok to
leave children home alone; it depends on whether the child is
Focus Children’s Guide 27
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