A NANNY from near Worcester has revealed what it takes to become a ‘real life Mary Poppins’.
Matilda Norton, 23, is in her third year of training at Norland College, one of the world’s most prestigious nanny schools.
Students go through rigorous training, with over 1,200 hours of hands-on placements and lessons in self-defence, sewing, advanced driving and cyber security.
Graduates go on to look after the children of some of the richest people in the world - including celebrities and royalty, such as Prince George.
"We've been taught by some of the best in the world, the education you get is second to none,” she said.
"You feel like you step out and there's not much, if anything, that a family could throw at you that you couldn't handle.”
Students at the college pay an annual tuition of £15,740, for which they get a BA (Hons) degree in Early Childhood Education and Care, alongside a Norland diploma.
At the end of the current academic year, Matilda will complete her Newly Qualified Nanny year in paid employment, after which she will officially become a Norland Nanny.
Once fully qualified, Norland Nannies earn an average of £40,000 in their first years, rising to £100,000 for nannies with experience, depending on their role and location.
Matilda added: "Our placements range from between eight to 12 hours a day, depending what placement you're doing, so quite a hefty chunk of time.
"Then for lectures, it's 9.30am to 3.30pm most days, so contact hours wise, it's way more than any other university.
"I think what people find with a Norland Nanny is that we can go to a family and find our feet at a ridiculous amount of speed."
Matilda came to Norland after dropping out of an Environmental Geophysics degree at the University of East Anglia.
She added: "I knew I wanted something with a degree and had a good turnaround for employment afterwards.
"Norland kept coming up but I thought there's no way you can apply, it's above and beyond and I have to be realistic about my expectations.
"But in the end I went for it, I opened a new UCAS account, wrote my application and got offered an interview within a week.
"Up until then I had kept it a secret from everyone, but I invited my parents over for Sunday lunch and just told them I was dropping out, but I had a plan in place.
"My mum had always mentioned Norland in passing, so she was over the moon, she was just like 'oh my gosh, I can't believe my daughter's going to be training to be a Norland Nanny.'"
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