Placements end for all kinds of ordinary reasons: a child starting school, a family relocating, a nanny moving on to a new opportunity. How the ending is handled matters just as much as how the placement began.
Follow the notice period you agreed
Whatever notice period is set out in the contract, honour it on both sides wherever possible. It gives the family time to arrange the next step, and gives the nanny time to secure their next role — rushing this rarely goes well for anyone.
Common, unremarkable reasons placements end
- A child starting school full-time, changing the family’s childcare needs entirely
- A family relocating, or a parent’s working pattern changing
- The nanny moving to a role that better fits their own circumstances
- Simply, the fit not being quite right — which is a valid reason on its own, without anyone being at fault
Giving a reference
If the placement went well, a clear, honest written reference is one of the most valuable things you can offer a nanny moving on — it directly affects their next opportunity. Be specific about what they did well.
How an ending is handled says as much about a family as how the placement began.
Ending with warmth
A short, genuine conversation acknowledging the relationship — especially where children are involved — helps everyone, including the child, understand the change rather than experience it as something sudden or unexplained.
What comes next
Whether you’re a family looking for your next nanny, or a nanny ready for your next placement, we’re here for exactly that conversation.