Internship programme for would be Mary Poppins

Locally founded childcare company Porse has put the call out for the next generation of Mary Poppins and prospective families to join a new nanny internship programme.

The programme, called Nips, will see an intern get 20 hours a week hands-on experience with a family while completing their five-month National Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care - for free.

Porse education and training general manager Erin Maloney said 10 of the internships will be given out in February and another 10 in July.

She said the hands-on experience will add extra value to the nationally recognised qualification.

"The nanny internship programme is a transition," Ms Maloney said. "Interns are placed with the families and have the opportunity to complete their study for free and get all of the Porse training support."

One student interested in the programme, Karamu High School Year 13 student Michelle Williams, said she was attracted to both the hands on aspect of the programme, and the zero cost.

"Both the hands on and that it gets paid for sounds good," she said. "I also think it's good being in their homes because then you get to experience their routines."

Classmate Danielle Hellyer, said the programme was an alternative option for other early childhood courses.

"I just thought it if I don't get into EIT I want something, and this sounds like a good opportunity to work on something that's still around children," she said.

Nannies must be aged between 17 and 25-years-old and families must have at least one child under the age of five-years-old.

Families will be required to pay a subsidised rate for the nannies.

Call 0800 626 6437 for more details.