By Filipino Nanny | Updated 21 August 2026
An hourly or part-time nanny can suit a family that needs childcare on defined days or for fewer weekly hours, while a full-time nanny can suit a family that needs regular childcare across a larger part of the working week. The better choice comes from the actual days, hours and duties required, not from assuming that one arrangement is more committed, flexible or caring than the other.
“Hourly” describes how hours or pay may be structured; it does not automatically mean casual work, self-employment or temporary childcare. The contract and real working relationship determine the employment position.
Hourly or part-time vs full-time nanny: quick comparison
| Factor | Hourly / part-time nanny | Full-time nanny |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly childcare need | Selected days or fewer weekly hours | Regular childcare across more of the working week |
| Schedule | Can be fixed part-time or another clearly agreed pattern | Usually a more extensive recurring weekly schedule |
| Live-in or live-out | Usually discussed separately from full/part-time status | Can be live-in or live-out |
| Employment rights | Part-time status does not remove employment rights that apply | Employment rights apply according to the actual employment relationship |
| Best fit | When the family can define a smaller or more concentrated childcare gap | When the family needs consistent childcare across a substantial weekly schedule |
What does part-time mean for a nanny?
There is no single statutory number of hours that makes a worker part-time. GOV.UK describes a part-time worker as someone who works fewer hours than a full-time worker and notes that full-time workers will usually work 35 hours or more a week, but the actual working pattern depends on the role.
For a nanny job, the more useful questions are which days are needed, the start and finish times, the number of weekly hours, whether the hours are fixed or variable, and which duties must fit within that time.
What does full-time mean for a nanny?
A full-time nanny role involves a larger recurring working commitment, but “full-time” is not a licence to leave hours undefined. The family should still specify normal working days, start and finish times, any expected overtime, and whether the role is live-in or live-out.
A live-in arrangement describes accommodation rather than availability. If the family needs evening, overnight or weekend work, those expectations should be stated separately. See our live-in vs live-out nanny comparison.
How our enquiry form scopes full-time and part-time roles
Filipino Nanny Agency’s live client enquiry form asks families whether they are looking for Full Time or Part-time support, then separately asks how many hours a week are required and which days are needed. The form also records the role type, postcode and intended start date.
That means we do not treat the label “part-time” or “full-time” as enough information to match a role. Two families can both ask for part-time childcare while needing completely different days, hours and duties. The weekly pattern needs to be defined before candidate matching is useful.
We also avoid turning the 118-to-85 split into a recommendation. The form does not record whether an enquiry became a placement, how long the role lasted, or whether the eventual schedule changed after discussion. It records the requirement submitted at the start of the search. That distinction is important when comparing schedules: the data demonstrates how families describe their initial need, not which arrangement produces better retention or child outcomes. For the same reason, this page does not repeat unverified hourly or weekly salary figures. Pay belongs in the site’s verified cost guidance once current placement ranges are available.
Choose part-time or hourly support when the childcare gap is concentrated
A part-time nanny can fit families who need childcare on selected days, before or after school, around part-time work, or during specific recurring parts of the week. The arrangement works best when the family can state the required hours clearly rather than relying on ad-hoc availability.
If the need is genuinely temporary rather than recurring, compare temporary and holiday nanny cover instead. Temporary duration and part-time weekly hours are different attributes.
Choose full-time support when childcare is a substantial weekly requirement
A full-time nanny can suit households where childcare is needed across much of the working week and consistency of the weekly schedule matters. The role should still be realistic for the number and ages of children, school or nursery routines, travel and any child-related household duties.
If the family also expects substantial general housekeeping, consider whether the role is more accurately a nanny-housekeeper. Adding broad household duties to a nanny role without changing the brief can create role creep.
Does part-time mean fewer employment responsibilities?
No. Part-time working does not remove the legal protections that apply to the worker. GOV.UK says part-time workers must not be treated less favourably than equivalent full-time workers just because they work part-time, subject to limited objective-justification exceptions.
Holiday entitlement and holiday pay also apply to part-time workers. If the household directly employs the nanny, employer responsibilities may include a written statement of employment particulars, payroll, minimum wage, paid holiday, workplace pension duties where applicable and right-to-work checks.
See our nanny employment guide and nanny payroll guide for the main obligations.
What should you compare before deciding?
- Weekly hours: how many hours of childcare do you genuinely need?
- Days: are the same days needed every week?
- Timing: are the hours concentrated before or after school or spread across full days?
- Duties: what must the nanny actually complete during those hours?
- Working arrangement: is the role live-in or live-out?
- Duration: is the need permanent, fixed-term or temporary?
Do hourly nannies have less continuity than full-time nannies?
Not necessarily. Continuity depends on whether the same person works a stable recurring schedule, not simply on the number of hours. A part-time nanny working the same three days every week can provide a consistent arrangement; a poorly defined full-time role can still be unstable.
Assess the actual candidate’s availability, relevant experience, references and fit with the agreed schedule rather than treating weekly hours as a personality or reliability signal.
How should you compare cost?
Do not compare only an hourly number with a weekly or annual number. First establish the gross pay basis, weekly hours and employment status, then include employer costs that apply. Agency fees are a separate cost from the nanny’s salary.
Our agency fees page explains the current placement fee. We are keeping nanny salary ranges in a separate verified cost source rather than repeating unverified figures across comparison pages.
Next step
If you know you need an in-home nanny but are deciding the schedule, review our Filipino nanny services in London and live-in vs live-out comparison. If you are still deciding between different types of household support, start with which domestic role fits your family. If you are still deciding whether a nanny is the right childcare model at all, compare nanny vs nursery, nanny vs au pair and nanny vs childminder.