Gillian Taft is Professional Nanny of the Year 2006
We would like to congratulate Gillian Taft, a 26-year-old nanny from Oxford, who has been declared The Professional Nanny of the Year 2006. Nannytax was, together with Chiltern College and PANN on the panel of selecting this year’s nanny of the year, and with three excellent nannies on the shortlist, this was not an easy choice to make. However, it is clear that Gillian does deserve the title and there is no doubt that she will be an excellent spokes-woman for the nanny industry.
Gillian cares for 3-year old twins Holly and Annie and was nominated for the award by her employers, Mr and Mrs King. Gillian met Holly and Annies' parents under unusually dramatic circumstances as she was working as a nursery nurse at the Special Care Baby Unit at Oxford Radcliffe Hospital, where the girls were born 9 weeks premature. As their nanny Gillian plays an important role in providing a safe and caring environment for the girls. Holly is profoundly deaf and under Gillian's care her confidence in listening and using verbal language has continued to grow. As Annie has suffered from respiratory difficulties from birth Gillian is also required to administer first aid and seek medical advice when necessary.
The awards ceremony took place at the Annual PAT conference at the Paramount Oxford Hotel in Oxford on August 2, 2006. James Tweed of Nursery Management Today presented Gillian Taft with the trophy and two highly commended awards went Jane Thuo and Fi Star-Stone both from London. The award was introduced by Kate Beith, Principal of Chiltern College who said: "Hopefully an award like this will raise the status of nannies and make the public aware of the need to have appropriately qualified and experienced practitioners to look after children in private homes. Nannies are truly the unsung heroes of the early year's profession, and the word "nanny" is indeed an unfortunate name that does not indicate the level of qualification and understanding of children that most practitioners have."
The Professional Nanny of the Year Award was first held in 2004. It is organised by the Professional Association of Nursery Nurses (PANN). Nominations for the award are sought from fully qualified nannies (NVQ 3 or equivalent), and nannies must be nominated by their employers. Candidates are also required to have a full CRB Enhanced Disclosure Check. The main purpose of the Professional Nanny of the Year Award is to recognise the highly professional, important role nannies play in providing hight quality, safe and flexible childcare.
Nannytax would like to encourage families to put their nanny forward for the Professional Nanny of the Year award 2007. Please contact PANN on 01332 372 337 for more details.