Norland College

Norland College is a British higher education provider based in Bath, Somerset. The college specialises in childcare, and is widely known for its prestigious training of nannies, nursery nurses and other childcare professionals, who are employed worldwide.

Norland nannies are seen as a status symbol and are popular among celebrities and royals. Alumni are termed "Norlanders". Norland offers a three year degree programme: the BA (Hons) in Early Years Development and Learning, followed by a one year Norland diploma programme. In March 2019, Norland was awarded Taught Degree Awarding Powers by the Privy Council, which allows it to offer the degree through their institution, as well as enabling it to mark all student assessments internally. Awards were previously in association with the University of Gloucestershire.

History

Norland was founded in 1892 by Emily Ward. It is the world's oldest childcare training institution. Ward believed in affectionate care which focused on the needs of the child and wanted to train nannies that would devote themselves to their charges and avoid using corporal punishment as much as possible.

Throughout its history, Norland has been based at various locations throughout the United Kingdom, notably Chislehurst in Kent and Denford Park near Hungerford in Berkshire, and is currently based in Bath. Originally, Norland contained daycare and boarding facilities for infants alongside the training college for nannies. Norland in its current iteration in Bath is solely an educational institute.

In February 1999, the first male nanny trainee was accepted, and in 2012 the first male undergraduate was admitted.

In 2005–2006, a documentary called Nanny School was filmed showing a year at Norland. It consisted of 15 episodes (5 per term) and was shown on Discovery Home and Health in October 2007.