The nanny governess — sometimes called a governess-nanny or edu-nanny — is one of the fastest-growing roles in private childcare. For families who want more than standard childcare but don’t yet need a full governess, the hybrid model offers the best of both worlds.
A good nanny governess integrates care and education seamlessly — so a child’s day is both well-managed and intellectually stimulating, without the need for two separate appointments.
What Does a Nanny Governess Do?
A nanny governess combines the nurturing, day-to-day care of a professional nanny with the educational focus of a governess. Rather than treating these as separate responsibilities, she integrates them throughout the child’s day.
Care Responsibilities
All standard nanny duties — meals, school runs, activities and daily routines. Travel with the family and maintaining consistency of care across locations and schedules.
Educational Input
Structured sessions in phonics, reading, numeracy and languages. Homework support, school liaison and preparation for nursery, pre-prep and prep school entry.
Cultural Enrichment
Music, art, etiquette and social skills — woven into the daily routine rather than delivered as separate lessons. A nanny governess shapes character as well as capability.
Travel Continuity
For families who travel extensively, a nanny governess maintains educational continuity on the road — ensuring children’s development doesn’t stop when the family moves.
Who Is the Nanny Governess Role Best Suited For?
The nanny governess is most commonly appointed for children aged approximately 3 to 10 — the window where both nurturing care and early educational structure are equally important.
Families preparing for competitive school entry — pre-prep, 4+, 7+, where structured early input makes a measurable difference.
International families — where language development and bilingualism are a priority alongside standard childcare.
Travelling families — who need educational consistency across multiple residences and countries.
Households preferring one appointment — where a single professional managing both care and education is more practical than two separate hires.
Nanny Governess vs Governess: What’s the Difference?
Qualifications to Look For
A nanny governess should ideally hold both a formal childcare qualification (Norland, CACHE Level 3 or equivalent) and some educational background — whether a degree, teaching experience, or a strong track record of preparing children for school entry. Languages are a significant advantage, particularly for international families.
As with all private household roles, references from previous UHNW or high-profile families carry particular weight.
Find a Nanny Governess Through EED
EED specialises in placing exceptional nanny governesses with families across London, Dubai and internationally. Register as a client to begin your search.
Governess vs Nanny
A full comparison of all three roles — governess, nanny governess and nanny — to help you decide which appointment is right for your children and household.
Governess & Nanny Salary Guide
Current salary benchmarks for nanny governess roles — what to expect to pay, what affects the rate, and how to benchmark against the market.