Written by Fanny Di Domenicantonio, Director of Fox & Cubs, Nanny & Private Staff Agency, in collaboration with Get Set Go.
Swimming lessons are an important part of many children’s routines, helping to build water confidence, coordination and essential safety skills from a young age. For working parents in London, ensuring children can attend these sessions consistently and safely often depends on having the right childcare support in place.
This article was written in collaboration with Get Set Go, exploring whether a nanny, au pair or childminder should accompany children to swimming lessons, particularly within the context of busy family schedules.
Why nannies play a central role in after-school activities
For many London families, extracurricular activities such as swimming lessons take place shortly after the school day finishes. As parents are often still working during these hours, childcare professionals play an important and practical role in ensuring children can attend activities while maintaining a consistent, structured afternoon routine.
A live-out nanny in London will typically manage school pick-ups, transport between locations and the transition into and out of activities such as swimming. This creates a smooth and reliable flow to the afternoon, particularly when multiple commitments need to be coordinated across the week. For children, having a familiar face throughout these transitions makes a significant difference to how settled and confident they feel.
Safety and qualifications
Safety is naturally a key consideration when a childcare professional accompanies a child to a swimming environment. Many professional nannies hold paediatric first aid qualifications and are experienced in supervising children during both outings and structured activity sessions.
When hiring a nanny to support extracurricular activities, families should ask specifically about first aid training, comfort around water and previous experience accompanying children to swimming or similar sessions. These are straightforward conversations to have at interview stage, and they matter.
Live-in nannies and broader activity support
For families employing a live-in nanny, accompanying children to extracurricular activities often forms a natural part of a broader daily role. This arrangement provides continuity throughout the day, allowing children to move between school, activities and home life with a consistent presence alongside them at every stage.
Some households also work with a nanny housekeeper, who supports both childcare and household organisation. When daily routines are well structured and clearly communicated, children are better able to engage with their activities while maintaining the kind of balanced schedule that supports their overall wellbeing.
How Fox & Cubs can help
At Fox & Cubs, we encourage families to be clear about expectations around school runs and extracurricular activities from the very beginning of the hiring process. Defining these responsibilities upfront including swimming lessons, sports clubs and other regular commitments ensures that the right candidate is matched to the role from the outset.
We look for nannies who are not just experienced in childcare but who are genuinely engaged in children’s wider development professionals who bring energy, care and reliability to every part of the day, including the busy hours after school. If you are looking for this kind of support for your family, get in touch with our team.
Fox & Cubs insight
“Extracurricular activities like swimming are an important part of how children build confidence and develop beyond the classroom. A nanny who manages these transitions well arriving prepared, keeping children calm and maintaining the routine adds real value to a family’s day. It is something we look for and ask about specifically when placing nannies with active families.” Eva, Client Consultant, Fox & Cubs Nanny & Private Staff Agency.
Read the full article
This article was written in collaboration with Anna O’Riordan at Get Set Go. To read the original piece in full, visit:
Get Set Go — Should My Nanny, Au Pair orChildminder Take My Child Swimming?
