From Global Educator to Principal: Dr Janet Rose’s Journey to Leading the World’s Most Sought-After Nannies
Dr Janet Rose, the esteemed Principal of Norland, has a career backstory as enriching as the institution she now leads. “It seems all paths have led me to Norland,” she reflects, a sentiment that becomes increasingly clear as she delves into her past.
Born in the UK, Dr Rose spent her early life abroad, completing her first degree in another country. Upon returning to the UK, she embarked on a journey of self-discovery, working in various roles, including a stint at one of the colleges at Cambridge.
However, it was her decision to become a teacher that truly set the course for her future. In her mid-20s, she trained to be a primary school teacher, specialising in early years after finding a particular affinity for working with younger children.
Dr Rose’s thirst for knowledge led her to complete a part-time master’s degree in child development and education. She then transitioned from teaching to a research post in London, which eventually led her to pursue a PhD.
Living abroad for a decade due to her husband’s work, Dr Rose completed her PhD and established her own business delivering developmental workshops for expat communities. This period of her life saw her residing in Canada, the United States, Holland, and Belgium.
Upon returning to England, Dr Rose continued her career in education, working as a lecturer at a university. Having completed her PhD, she felt drawn to this career path. She worked in higher education at various universities, taking on more responsibilities and developing an academic profile.
Dr Rose’s journey took an unexpected turn when the opportunity at Norland presented itself. Despite initial reservations, she was intrigued by the prospect. Now, as the Principal of Norland, Dr Rose’s diverse career experiences and passion for education come together, proving that indeed, all paths have led her here.
What’s more, Dr Rose’s exploration into Norland’s history reveals a rich heritage of pioneering childcare. “I discovered that Emily Ward, who founded Norland in 1892, had been a pioneer in the field and had literally created the childcare profession,” she shares.
Ward’s vision was revolutionary for its time. She believed that childcare was not just a job for anyone, but a profession requiring specific training. She developed an education programme focusing on practical skills and understanding, drawing on the philosophies of child-centred practice. This approach was a stark contrast to the prevailing Victorian culture, making Ward truly ahead of her time.
Dr Rose is particularly struck by Ward’s two founding mottos, ‘Love Never Faileth’ and ‘Strength in Adversity’. She finds these principles, balancing a caring, child-centred ethic with resilience and strength, to be as relevant today as they were over a century ago. “Those are probably the two most important aspects that anyone would want to have,” she states.
In light of this, Janet’s trajectory and professional interests align remarkably with Norland’s ethos. Her interest in mental health and emotional literacy, aspects explored in her PhD which focused on critical thinking, led her to discover emotion coaching, a parenting style that she believes should be adopted in classrooms. “You can’t think critically if you’re not emotionally balanced and don’t have that support,” she explains.
Her own experiences as a parent made Janet realise that traditional strategies for managing children’s behaviour were insufficient, especially for neurodiverse children. This realisation dovetailed with her role at Norland, where she found Emily Ward had understood this even in the 19th century.
Blending Theory and Practice
Dr Rose describes the institution’s educational efforts as a blend of theory and practice. “We’re not solely theoretical,” she explains, “we focus on a perfect blend of vocational and academic.” Norland’s curriculum includes a practical diploma alongside the degree, with about 35% of the course taking place in placements, allowing students to immediately put their learning into practice.
Research is also integral in informing Norland’s curriculum. “We’ve got to make sure our curriculum is up-to-date, cutting edge, reflects best practice, reflects what new knowledge that we’ve learned about children’s development,” she says. To this end, Norland has set up its own research centre and launched the world’s first research journal focusing on home-based childcare.
Janet sees Norland’s educational efforts as a journey towards becoming the world’s first specialist early childhood university. “We’re on a natural journey,” she says. Dr Rose believes that Norland’s blend of theory and practice, its focus on research, and its balanced approach to childcare all contribute to this goal.
With these goals in mind, Janet goes on to explain the values of a Norlander as a blend of care and competence. “Applicants need an absolute commitment to work with children, and the passion and drive to be a Norland nanny.”
As well as these, Dr Rose emphasises the importance of resilience, organisation, and efficiency in a Norlander. She believes these traits, along with honesty, practicality, responsibility, and kindness, are crucial for the demanding and long hours of looking after children. To support the development of these traits, Norland’s curriculum includes modules focusing on self-regulation and professional development.
Janet also highlights the unique aspects of Norland’s curriculum, which she describes as “very rich”. She says, “one minute students are studying cooking, and the next they’re having a lecture on brain development. After that it can be baby massaging, followed by learning about first aid.”
Leadership at Norland: Balancing Caring and Daring
When it comes to leadership at Norland, Janet has a unique perspective. She believes in creating an environment for staff and students that mirrors the nurturing and challenging environment wanted for a child.
“As leaders, we want the kind of environment that we would want to have for a child,” she explains. In this regard, Janet takes inspiration from George Kohlrieser, in particular through his book ‘Care to Dare’. According to Kohlrieser, a leader that is caring and daring is able to challenge, stimulate, set boundaries, and make difficult decisions, “and yet at the same time create a caring environment for that staff member to feel they’re able to express their concerns or needs or issues so that they can then get resolved,” Dr Rose adds.
With all this in mind, leadership is about balance for Dr Rose. It’s about being collaborative and as democratic as possible, while also recognising that some decisions require a firm stamp. “You have to make a decision at some point, and as long as it’s informed and people’s voices are heard, then they’re much more willing and able to accept those decisions,” she says.
At Norland, Dr Rose hopes to foster a leadership style where people feel cared for but also challenged and empowered to contribute productively to the development of the organisation. “At the end of the day, everything is about resilience,” she concludes. “And if you’ve got well-being and resilience that are working interactively together and effectively, then your people are succeeding.” This balance, she believes, is key to not just surviving, but thriving in today’s world.
