Leading Article

Gayle Goshorn
Wednesday, May 22, 2002

I don't know about you, but this is the time of year when I find everything seems to open up and new avenues suddenly appear more possible. Our feature on nannying in Italy (p14) describes just the sort of lifestyle that makes people in this office say they wish they were nannies. If you prefere to stay closer to home, we map out how to find a nanny job, whether you are newly-qualified or simply want to check you're doing it right (p12). Developments in Government thinking, that we analyse on p6, have led some people to suggest there won't be so many nanny jobs in future, or that having a nanny will become a less attractive option. I expect that nothing much will actually change. Many parents will continue to prefer nannies for the same reasons they do now - flexibility and dedication - not to mention some economies of scale compared with nurseries or childminders. Parents know that nannies are value for money. At least the controversy over tax credits puts that issue out in the open.