Norland College for Nannies: Could You Make It?

By: Teresa McGlothlin
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Norland College for Nannies: Could You Make It?
Image: Steve Debenport/E+/Getty Images

About This Quiz

Situated in Bath, England, the Norland College of Nannies has a long-standing tradition of excellence. Nannies who graduate from the prestigious school are highly-trained professionals, and they come with a high price tag. In fact, the demand for Norland certified nannies is so extreme that it's not unheard of for graduates to make six-figure salaries!

Of course, all the perks and benefits of being a Norland nanny do not come without hard work. Students at the school spend three years learning everything from sewing to childhood development. Even after graduating, Norland nannies must take a 12-month-long assignment under the supervision of the school before moving further into the workforce. 

Considered a modern-day Mary Poppins, a Norland nanny is more than just a child expert. Due to the high-profile nature of royal, affluent and celebrity clients, Norland nannies are also trained in self-defense and defensive driving and receive anti-terrorism education. With a Norland nanny, you get a true specialist! 

As we go through this quiz, we want to put you to the test. Do you think you know enough about Norland and about child development to earn the coveted brown uniform? Or will you need to brush up on your basic skills? Answer our questions, and we'll let you know how you did! 


Which of the following things are Norland nannies not permitted to do while wearing their uniforms?
Speak to adults
Attend birthday parties
Buy fast food
When Norland nannies are not in uniform, they are encouraged to live a full and normal life. However, wearing the uniform comes with a lot of responsibility, and there are many restrictions, including not being allowed to buy fast food, purchase alcohol, or chew gum.
Run errands

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Nannies must monitor child development. Which of the following is considered a fine motor skill?
Jumping
Writing
Part of being an outstanding nanny is knowing the stages of childhood development. Norland nannies spend years studying everything from a child's motor skills to their emotional stages of growth.
Jogging
Dancing

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When dealing with children, which tool should be used to increase positive behaviors?
Rewards
Praise
If you want a child to continue practicing positive behaviors, the best tool is praise. Letting a child know that they are behaving appropriately is likely to lead to more positive behaviors in the future.
Threats
Bribes

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Do you know the recommended bedtime for a 3-year-old?
9 PM
8 PM
Although every child is different and families' needs are different, child care experts recommend that 3-year-olds are in bed by 8 PM. Having a consistent nightly routine will help the child to fall asleep easier.
11 PM
6 PM

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What is the first step a nanny would take to plan a birthday party?
Make invitations
Order a cake
Consult with the parents
One of the most frequently stressed points in nanny training is communication. When planning a party or any event, nannies must always consult the parents first. Norland nannies receive special training in party planning.
Book a venue

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Nannies care for children of all ages. How often should bottle-fed newborns eat?
Every 12 hours
Every 2-4 hours
Whether a newborn is formula fed or receiving pumped breast milk from a bottle, the should be fed every 2 to 4 hours. As the baby grows and solid food is introduced into their diet, the frequency of bottle feedings drops dramatically.
Every 6 hours
Every 8 hours

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In order to learn how to escape paparazzi, which sort of class are Norland nannies required to take?
Photography
Driving
For the purposes of general driving safety and for escaping the paparazzi when transporting high-profile children, Norland nannies are required to complete an intensive driving course. They are instructed by a former intelligence agent.
Costume making
Self-defense

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When potty training a child, how would a nanny begin?
A nanny would introduce the child to the potty.
When a child is showing clear and ready signs to begin potty training, the nanny would first introduce them to the potty. Potty training requires a lot of patience and consistency -- things Norland nannies are trained to have.
A nanny would put the child in training pants.
A nanny would let a child watch them go.
A nanny would put the child on a tight schedule.

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Which type of shoes are Norland nannies required to wear with their uniforms?
Brogue
Norland nannies must always conform to uniform standards. In addition to a felt hat, gloves, and an overcoat, nannies are required to wear tan or brown brogue shoes to be considered completely dressed for the job.
Mocassins
Sneakers
Mules

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What sort of degree do Norland nannies graduate with?
Bachelor of Education
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor in Early Years Development and Learning
After 3 years of intensive studies, Norland nannies graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Early Years Development and Learning. For 1 year after graduation, Norland nannies are placed in a real-world caregiving situation and monitored by Norland.

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Norland requires nannies to take nutrition classes. Do you know which unit is used to measure energy in food?
Carbohydrate
Protein
Intake
Calorie
Part of a Norland nanny's 3-year training involves childhood nutrition. By the time nannies are placed, they are well prepared to make healthy meals for all age groups. In their classes, they would have learned that the calorie is the unit of energy used to measure food.

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What is the first sign that a child might have a fever?
A warm forehead
The first sign that an infant might have a fever is that they will feel warm to the touch. While crankiness and chills are other common signs, being warm to the touch is a good indication. Nannies would contact the parents and the pediatrician if the child were under 3 months old.
Chills
Crankiness
Insomnia

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If a child were allergic to wheat, what sort of diet would you feed them?
Dairy free
Gluten free
At Norland College, nannies are taught both nutrition and cooking skills. With so many types of diets required by children, Norland educates nannies in all aspects of gluten-free cooking as well as special diets for other allergies.
Nut free
Meat free

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How much must a child weigh before they can graduate from a safety seat to a booster seat?
80 pounds
40 pounds
As children grow, they graduate through a series of safety seats. First, they are placed in a rear-facing seat; then, they move up to a five-point harness seat. Around 40 pounds and 35 inches tall, children are ready to utilize booster seats.
100 pounds
50 pounds

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Which age group sees the highest level of brain development?
6-8 years
9-11 years
0-5 years
From birth to 5 years, children experience the greatest rate of physical development and brain development. In fact, the human brain reaches half of its adult size by 3 months.
12 years and over

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Why are children under the age of three considered at a high risk of choking?
They like to explore with their mouths.
Small children are naturally curious, and they explore the world in any way that they can. It's only natural for a child under the age of three to want to taste a new discovery. They are considered a high choking risk because putting something in their mouths is another way to learn.
They are always hungry.
They do not have enough teeth to chew properly.
They are always trying to break things.

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In terms of development, what age does early childhood end?
8
In terms of early childhood development, the ages range from birth to eight years old. After 8 years old, children reach the middle childhood stage. Around age 12, they enter adolescence.
5
3
4

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Nannies observe kinds of play to assess childhood development. Which type of play involves playing alone?
Onlooker play
Parallel play
Solitary play
Play is considered a valuable part of childhood development. To assess a child's social and developmental skills, nannies might observe the child practicing several forms of play. Solitary play, or playing alone, is just as important as other types of play.
Cooperative play

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Which milestone do babies reach around the age of 2 months?
Sitting up
Smiling
One of the first developmental milestones in babies takes place around the age of 2 months. At this time, babies begin to communicate their emotions with those adorable baby smiles that could make anyone melt -- nanny or not!
Speaking
Rolling over

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Around the time that children enter preschool, which phase do they enter?
Autonomous
Around the age that children would enter preschool, they start entering an autonomous phase of development. During this phase, children begin to realize that they have choices and begin to operate a little more independently.
Narcissist
Leadership
Creative

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Which part of the body do gross motor skills use?
Large bones
Small muscles
Small bones
Large muscles
When Norland nannies receive childhood development education, they are taught about both fine motor skills and gross motor skills. If a child is not using their large muscle groups, or gross motor skills, at an appropriate marker, nannies would voice concerns to parents.

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Which group are 3- to 5-year-olds considered to be part of?
Infants
Toddlers
Preschoolers
The age group that ranges from 3 to 5 years old is called preschoolers. The stages of childhood development run: Infant, toddler, preschooler, then primary.
Primary

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Norland nannies must be CPR certified. What does CPR mean?
Childhood pulmonary resuscitation
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
In addition to cooking skills, martial arts practices, and childhood education, Norland nannies are prepared and certified for any emergency. They must learn both cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid before being allowed to work with children.
Childcare professional ranking
Certified preschool registry

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Norland nannies are taught martial arts. What kind do they learn?
Karate
Aikido
Taekwondo
The extensive training at Norland College doesn't only focus on practical skills like cooking and sewing. Potential nannies are also taught how to practice taekwondo. It is considered part of their self-defense training.
Kickboxing

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While in school, Norland nannies learn to sew clothing. What do they do with them?
They give them to charities around the world.
At Norland College, nannies learn everything from cooking to sewing to cleaning. Part of the requirements for attending Norland is learning to make and sew clothing. Each piece is then donated to an international charity for distribution in poorer nations.
They sell them to fund events.
They save them for placement.
They use them to dress their robotic babies.

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Can you choose the unlikely type of training Norland nannies have received since 2017?
Ballroom dancing
Grocery bagging
Billiards
Anti-terrorism
Since 2017, Norland nannies have received training in anti-terrorism. With high-profile children under their care, nannies are taught how to avoid kidnapping scenarios and how to use social media without giving away clues to their locations. Nannies are also taught self-defense.

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After being placed with a family, what must a Norland nanny use every day?
Time tracker
Checklist
Security key
Journal
Beginning on the first day of official placement with a family, a Norland nanny must begin to keep a journal of hers and the children's activities. The journal provides full transparency to their employers about the child's day-to-day activities.

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Norland nannies are permitted to discipline. What sort of punishment are they not allowed to use?
Corporal
The disciplinary input from Norland nannies is always taken into account by the parents, and many parents allow nannies to practice adequate punishment. However, Norland strictly forbids their nannies from practicing any form of corporal punishment such as spanking.
Deterrence
Restoration
Retribution

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All Norland nannies must undergo background checks. How often do they need to be re-certified?
Every 3 months
Every 3 years
Just when you thought being a Norland nanny couldn't be any tougher... each nanny is required to undergo a background test by the U.K. Disclosure and Barring Service. It must be re-certified every 3 years.
Every 10 years
Every 5 years

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If you were trying to soothe a teething baby, what might you give them?
Medication
A rattle
A cookie
Teething ring
Teething babies are experiencing a great deal of discomfort. Unless there is a fever, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends allowing a teething child to chew on a teething ring. Freezing or chilling the teething ring may aid in better results.

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When could you expect a child to start taking their first steps?
9 to 12 months
On average, babies begin to take their first steps between 9 to 12 months, and they are quite steady around the age of 15 months. However, all children are different, and it's not unusual for a child to be up to 16 months old before making their first attempt.
3 to 6 months
12 to 18 months
18 to 24 months

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Norland uniform standards are very strict. Which item are nannies not allowed to wear?
Earrings
Tights
Watch
To maintain the prestigious reputation of Norland, nannies must follow certain rules. Although they may wear a small pair of stud earrings and lightly colored tights, they may not wear a wristwatch at any time while in uniform.
Gloves

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Norland nannies receive basic lifeguard training. What should you do if you see someone drowning?
Throw them a flotation device.
Nannies frequently take trips with the children in their charge, including trips to the beach. At Norland, nannies are taught basic lifeguarding skills. Before entering the water to rescue someone who is drowning, you should try first throwing them a flotation device.
Jump in and swim towards them.
Notify local law enforcement.
Run and find the nearest lifeguard.

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How many hours of continuing education are Norland nannies required to take every year after graduation?
15
20
0
Once Norland nannies graduate their 4-year training, they are encouraged, but not required, to take 15 hours per week of continuing education. Since being a nanny is such a competitive field, most Norland graduates exceed the recommended number.
12

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If a child under your care began to throw a tantrum, how would you diffuse it?
I would ignore it.
Having the occasional tantrum is a part of childhood. Norland nannies learn how to deal with children in all sorts of emotional states. Experts recommend ignoring the negative behaviors of a tantrum.
I would try to calm the child with my words.
I would give the child a lollipop.
I would give the child a stern look.

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