Orlando

About Me

——? About Me——

Hi, I’m Orlando! I’m 34 years old, and I’ve been working with children for over eight years. During this time, I’ve had the pleasure of looking after children of all ages—newborns, toddlers, school-age children, and teenagers, including those with additional needs. I started as an Au Pair, and since then, I’ve taken on roles as a live-in and live-out Nanny, Babysitter, and Volunteer.

Although I’ve worked with children across all age groups, most of my hands-on experience has been with babies and toddlers. That’s mainly because older children are usually at school during the day, so most of the weekday hours I’ve worked have been spent with younger children. Most of the older children I worked with had additional needs.

My name used to be Jan, as some of you may remember. I changed it later in life—for reasons I’ve shared in the Why I Do This Work section below.

I’m OFSTED registered, and families can use Tax-Free Childcare when booking with me. I’m also currently studying for a degree in Child Psychology—not only as part of my longer-term goal of becoming a Play Therapist, but also to deepen the support I can offer to children in my care right now.


——? My Childcare Approach & Values——

My childcare superpowers are patience, empathy, and building genuine connections.

I quickly gain children’s trust by getting onto their level, engaging them playfully, and helping them navigate choices while understanding natural consequences. I provide a calm and steady presence, supporting children through challenges and helping them feel secure and confident.

I nurture children’s development through play, reassurance, and genuine connection, ensuring they feel safe and cared for while their parents are away. I encourage outdoor play for all children, and can support older ones by coordinating with their coaches in sports like tennis, rugby, cricket, and football. I also assist with learning to play instruments in between their lessons with their tutors, having supported children practicing guitar and piano, while learning the accordion myself.

Beyond direct childcare, I provide practical support by keeping children’s spaces neat and tidy, managing their laundry, and ensuring a comfortable environment for them to thrive. Parents can rely on me for steady, understanding care and practical insights. My approach is built on warmth, reliability, and the belief that every child deserves to feel valued, supported, and encouraged to grow.


——? My Favourite Childcare Moments——
Some of the best moments I’ve had while working with children were the shifts in how they started to trust me. I’ve seen hesitant children watch me cautiously at first, some even clinging onto their parents, unsure of whether to engage as I was an unknown new adult in their life, a complete stranger whom they suddenly had to be with as their parents were about to leave. I never rush them—I get onto their level, playfully interact without forcing myself into their space, and let them decide when they’re ready. Then, suddenly, something clicks. Their body language softens, their eyes brighten, and they go from hesitant to excited, realising I’m not just another adult watching over them—I’m someone they can have fun with and feel safe around.

I love seeing children gain confidence, whether it’s in trying something new, pushing past uncertainty, or discovering they can do something they once thought was too difficult. I’ve had children who were unsure about the water take small steps toward trust—first sitting by the pool’s edge, then splashing with their hands, and eventually taking the leap to jump in, knowing I’ll be there to catch them. The excitement and pride on their faces in that moment, realising they were brave enough to do it, is something I never get tired of.

Some of my favourite moments are the ones where I find creative ways to make a child feel comfortable. Amongst all of the other children, I once looked after a little boy who was hesitant to join in at a soft play. He watched the other children but wouldn’t step forward. A cuddle and reassuring words did nothing. So I climbed onto a low platform, threw myself into a dramatic tumble, and exaggerated an “Uh-oh!” as I landed. He stared for a moment, then his entire face lit up. Beaming, he crawled over, climbed onto my lap, and hugged me before diving straight into the ball pit. Seeing that hesitation melt away into joy was incredible.

I’ve also had unexpected moments of connection with children I wasn’t even looking after at the time—kids in playgroups, soft plays, playgrounds, and even swimming pools who would suddenly approach me, wanting to join in. They had never met me before, but seeing me actively playing and engaging with the children in my care made them curious and drawn to me. Some even climbed onto my lap, or handed me a toy, silently inviting me to play. It was always heartwarming, and while the children I was with didn’t always want to share my attention, I tried to include everyone whenever possible. If that wasn’t an option, I would at least gently redirect the child rather than rejecting them outright. I know what rejection feels like, and I never want a child to feel that way.

There was also something special about the quieter moments—being there as a child drifted off to sleep, offering the reassurance that they weren’t alone. Some needed to be rocked gently in my arms, others held my hand until they felt safe enough to let go, and some just needed to hear the sound of my quiet presence nearby. I’ve had little ones who would fight sleep, restless and unsure, until they felt the steady warmth of someone beside them. Others simply needed to know that when they closed their eyes, nothing bad would happen—that someone would still be there when their parents were away. Whether they were crying, unsettled, or drifting off peacefully, I stayed, because I knew how much it mattered to them.

And then there were the moments of learning—watching a child figure something out, whether it was how to use a new toy, how something in the world worked, or finally mastering a skill they had been struggling with. Seeing the look of excitement on their faces when they turned to me with that unspoken Did you see that?—those moments never got old. I loved watching them discover their own abilities, realising they were capable of more than they thought.

But what I loved most of all were the moments of genuine connection. Whether it was through play, learning, or simply offering comfort, those were the moments that reminded me why I loved what I did.


——? My Current Work——
Right now, I split my time between several childcare roles:

Regular nanny for a little girl born in late 2023 on Thursdays and Fridays

Emergency and ad hoc childcare (self-employed) for families who need flexible, short-notice care

I also take on some emergency bookings from Bright Horizons (through British Nannies)

I’d love to find another family for one or two more days per week, in addition to my Thursdays and Fridays. I am also available for babysitting.

I’m OFSTED registered, meaning families can use Tax-Free Childcare when booking with me.


——? My Qualifications & Training——
Level 3 Diploma in Childcare & Development

Level 3 Maternity Nurse Training (Babyem)

Common Core Skills & Knowledge for the Childcare Workforce

Paediatric First Aid

Certificates in Safer Sleeping for Babies, Understanding and Addressing Behaviour, and Level 2 Safeguarding Children

Functional Skills in English and Maths (GCSE equivalent)

Full UK Driving Licence

I’m also studying for a degree in Child Psychology to further support children’s emotional and developmental needs. Alongside this, I’m taking courses on:

Working with children with learning difficulties

Understanding adverse childhood experiences and trauma

My long-term goal is to become a Play Therapist, helping children recover from difficult experiences and build resilience through play-based interventions.


? Experience with Special Needs and Disabilities
I have experience caring for children with:

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), including both verbal and nonverbal presentations and a range from severe to high-functioning

ADHD

Down syndrome

Physical disabilities including cerebral palsy

Developmental delays

Other Special Educational Needs (SEN)

I always adapt my approach to each child’s unique needs—whether that means using visual communication tools, supporting sensory preferences, or tailoring activities to their abilities and interests.


——?Supporting Parents Along the Way——
While I spend most of my time with the children, I also care a lot about the parents I work with. I try to offer advice when I can, whether it’s about creating safe spaces for kids or supporting mental health and resilience. It’s important to me that parents feel supported too, because I understand how challenging parenting can be.

I believe that parents don’t have to be perfect, but being involved and showing love and understanding is key to a child’s development. I focus on giving children the care they need when their parents can’t be around, but I also work to help parents create a healthy environment at home.

I bring what I know, what I’ve lived, and what I’ve come to understand—offering steady support where it’s needed, without stepping in where it’s not. I don’t arrive with a perfect plan—just an open mind, a calm presence, and a commitment to helping children feel safe and parents feel supported in their own way.


——?? My Story and Why I Do This Work——
Eight years of being the person who steps in and the person who steps out.

I walk into homes that aren’t mine, stepping into routines already in motion. I meet children where they are—sometimes cautious, sometimes curious, sometimes unsure what to make of me at first. Because I’m new. Because I’m unfamiliar. Because, to them, I am unexpected.

Some children see me for just a moment—a single night, a few hours, a brief stop in the timeline of their lives. Others grow with me, and more will, their newborn cries turning into laughter, their hesitant steps turning into confident strides, their little hands reaching for mine until, one day, they no longer need to.

I am both temporary and constant.
A familiar face to some, a passing figure to others.
Always present, yet never permanent.

And outside of their world, some people never quite know what to make of me.

“How did you get into this?”
“Wait, you do this (childcare) full-time?”
“I’ve never met a male nanny/babysitter before!”

As if care should have rules.
As if nurture should have a gender.

But children don’t care about labels.
They care that I show up. That I listen. That I meet them where they are.

They care about the little things—the way I remember their favourite bedtime stories, the way I catch them when they leap without looking, the way I listen when they have something important (or completely nonsensical) to say. The way I stay when they ask me to, and step back when they’re ready.

And in the middle of all the movement, there are moments.

A baby, who would only settle for their parents, drifting off to sleep in my arms.
A toddler, once reluctant at bedtime, now reaching for my hand under the blankets.
A child who once watched from a distance, pulling me into their play as if I was always meant to be there.
A small hand slipping into mine—not out of habit, but out of trust.

And eight years in, I know one thing for sure:
I may not be permanent, but for them, in those moments, I am.

My journey into childcare was a choice I made consciously—And I went into it head first. My very first childcare role was with a single dad raising four boys: triplets and their older brother.

But this decision wasn’t random. It was driven by something deeply personal, rooted in my own childhood experiences.

I grew up in a home where emotional and physical abuse and neglect were part of daily life. As a child, I didn’t fully understand what I was missing—just that something felt off. As a child, you adapt to what’s around you. You don’t yet know what’s normal, so whatever you experience at home can easily feel like it’s just how the world works—because it’s the only reality you know. But as I got older, I realised how much I had been denied—not just love, but the sense of security, care, and guidance that every child deserves.

Even in childhood, I noticed younger children who felt lonely or disconnected often gravitated toward me. They seemed to sense that I understood what it was like to feel unseen, and I instinctively offered them the warmth and connection they needed. Those early moments deeply shaped my empathy, giving me an intuitive understanding of what children need—knowing what felt right or wrong in certain situations, not because I’d seen it modelled, but precisely because I hadn’t.

Realising the impact of my childhood experiences was part of why I left behind “my family” at nineteen and later changed my name—to reflect the person I’ve become, to finally let go, and to be fully and completely myself.

My formal childcare journey began as an Au Pair, and since then, I’ve dedicated myself to working with families as a live-in and live-out nanny, babysitter, and volunteer. Over these eight years, I’ve supported hundreds of families—through one-off bookings, occasional care, or long-term arrangements. While each child I’ve cared for has taught me something new, what has truly guided me has always been my own intuitive understanding, shaped by the empathy drawn from my past.

Today, my goal is simple—to offer every child I care for the genuine connection, warmth, and emotional safety I intuitively knew I needed when I was young, even if I couldn’t put it into words at the time. To provide the kind of nurturing environment that, at a deeper level, every child inherently deserves.

Looking to the future, my dedication to childcare continues. I’m committed to supporting children, whether it’s through my current roles, my studies, or my goal to become a Play Therapist—specifically so I can help children find their voice and heal, drawing from the empathy and intuition I developed from my own early experiences.

One day, I want to raise my own family with the love, security, and emotional warmth I never experienced myself—to guide my children with patience and empathy, ensuring they always feel seen, heard, and secure. It’s a dream built not only on what I lacked but on the strength, compassion, and resilience I’ve already learned to give and receive along the way.


——? Let’s Talk!——
If you’re looking for a trustworthy, experienced, and dedicated childcare professional who will genuinely care for your child’s well-being and development, I’d love to chat. I’m here to help in any way I can.