Governess vs Nanny vs Tutor: What's the Difference?

The simplest way to tell them apart is as follows: a nanny cares for children, a governess educates them, and a tutor teaches specific subjects on a sessional basis. All three staff members develop children's skills, but their focus, place in the household, and pay differ significantly.

What a nanny does

So, let's get to it. A nanny is responsible for a child's day-to-day care and well-being: routines, meals, play, safety, school runs, and emotional support, often from a very young age and frequently as a live-in member of the household. Nursery duties such as children's meals and laundry are usually also the nanny's area; care, not academics, is the defining focus. Increasingly, families seek nannies who can also offer light tutoring or housekeeping but the fundamental core of the role is the children's care.

What a governess does

A governess is responsible for a child's education and development. In other words, teaching academic subjects, languages, etiquette, and enrichment and preparing children for entrance exams. For these reasons the governess is typically specialised towards school-aged children, with days planned around a school-style schedule. Domestic duties are not in the governess's remit. Governesses tend to stay with a family for two to five years and usually bring several years of professional teaching or childcare experience, which is why the governess is the most senior and highest-paid of the three roles. (See what a governess does day to day.)

What a tutor does

A tutor teaches specific subjects. This could be maths, English, a language, and exam technique - for usually one to four hours a week on directed study goals. The tutor is normally not a live-in member of the household. Tutors don't collect children from school, discipline them, or provide care; in fact they complement a nanny or governess (as opposed to replacing them). Tutors in high demand are often fully booked months in advance and work year-round.

Hybrid roles: the nanny-governess

For younger children, families frequently seek a nanny-governess. This role seeks to combine attentive care with early education until a child is ready for a full academic programme. These blended roles are common in HNW households and command premium salaries.

So which staff member do you need?

• Choose a nanny if your priority is care, routine, and well-being.
• Choose a governess if your priority is education, languages, and academic development.
• Choose a tutor for targeted, subject-specific support alongside existing childcare.

New to these roles? Start with What Is a Governess?

Looking for a role? Browse live governess and nanny jobs on Jobs in Childcare. Hiring? Post your role here.

Qualifications and vetting: what to look for

The three roles are held to different professional standards, and this is often the quickest way to tell candidates apart on paper.

• Nannies are not required to hold mandatory qualifications in the UK, but stronger candidates will hold a recognised childcare qualification (such as a CACHE diploma or, at the top of the market, Norland College's BA and diploma), current paediatric first aid, and an enhanced DBS check. Ofsted registration is also a factor for families who want to use tax-free childcare.
• Governesses are usually degree-educated. The strongest candidates hold a teaching qualification (PGCE/QTS or an international equivalent) with experience of a recognised curriculum (usually British, IB or American) - plus languages where the family wants them. Because the governess role is educational, families should ask to see teaching experience, not just look at childcare experience.
• Tutors are judged on subject expertise and results: a strong degree in the subject taught, and often examiner experience or a track record at specific hurdles — 7+/8+/11+/13+ entrance exams, GCSE, A-level, or university admissions.

How the roles work together in a household

In many high-net-worth households these are not competing options but colleagues. A common structure for a family with children of different ages: a nanny runs care and routine for the youngest, a governess leads the school-age children's education and enrichment, and tutors are brought in around school terms for specific subjects or exam preparation. The governess often coordinates the children's overall schedule, sitting senior to the nanny in the household structure without managing her directly.

Travel patterns differ too. Nannies and governesses routinely travel with the family, as international families in Dubai, Monaco or Geneva request, while tutors are more often engaged locally. Be aware that residential tutors may join a family full-time, typically engaged through specialist agencies.

It's also a career ladder. Experienced nannies with an interest in education frequently move into nanny-governess roles and, from there (usually after adding a teaching qualification) into full governess positions, the best-paid tier of the profession.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a governess and a nanny?

A nanny is responsible for a child's care and daily well-being; a governess is responsible for their education and development. A nanny cares; a governess teaches.

Is a governess higher than a nanny?

A governess is generally the more senior, more academic role and typically commands a higher salary. Having said that, the roles are distinct rather than ranked, and many families employ both alongside one another.

Can one person be both a nanny and a governess?

Yes, a nanny-governess combines care and early education, a common arrangement for younger children in high-net-worth households.

A final word

Care, education, subjects: Once you know which of the three a family actually needs—or which you want to provide — the rest of the decision gets much easier. If you're weighing up the governess route in more detail, why not start with our full guide, What Is a Governess?, or browse the latest governess and nanny roles to see what families are hiring for right now.