Maternity Nurse Training London & Online

We recommend having at least one year's experience caring for babies before attending the Maternity Nurse Training.

You might already be working as a nanny, nursery practitioner, doula or in another role supporting babies and families. The training is designed to build on that experience and develop your specialist knowledge and confidence in newborn care.

If you're unsure whether your current experience is suitable, please get in touch with our team before booking.

Absolutely. In fact, maternity nurse training can be a natural next step for experienced nannies who particularly enjoy working with newborns and younger babies.

Some nannies complete the training to deepen their newborn knowledge while continuing in their existing role. Others begin taking on newborn or maternity work alongside nannying, while some choose to transition gradually into maternity nursing.

The roles can also offer a different way of working. Nannies are commonly employed by one family, whereas maternity nurses typically work on a self-employed basis for families for defined periods of time.

For many experienced childcare professionals, this can offer greater flexibility and the opportunity to specialise in the stage of family life they are most passionate about.

Yes. Level 3 can be paid as 3 × £168 or 4 × £135. Level 4 can be paid as 3 × £223 or 4 × £168.

A small administration fee applies to payment plans, so paying in full is always the lowest total cost.

View instalment options →

Both routes are OCN accredited to the same levels, taught to the same standard, assessed the same way, and lead to the same certificate. Eligible England-based graduates get the same access to the optional Newborn Placement Scheme, quarterly CPD, the practitioner community and the masterclass vault whichever route they take.

The difference is the two days in the room. In London you learn with Shel Banks in a cohort of no more than 18, take part in the practical, hands-on sessions that can't be done on a screen, and ask your questions live. The fully online route starts immediately with no fixed dates and is taught by the wider Babyem specialist team, which suits practitioners with unpredictable hours or anyone outside the UK.

Choose London if you learn best with people in the room and can commit to a set weekend. Choose online if you can't. Compare both routes side by side →

We teach a responsive, evidence-based approach to newborn care. This means understanding infant physiology, feeding science, development and maternal wellbeing, and applying that knowledge thoughtfully to the individual family in front of you.

You will not be taught rigid scripts. You will be taught how to assess, think critically, and know when to refer.

All of our Maternity Nurse Training is taught to Level 4 standard, because we believe professionals working with newborns and families should be encouraged to think critically, explore the evidence and understand how to apply their knowledge to different situations.

The main difference is the level at which you choose to be assessed and accredited.

Level 3 is comparable academically to A-level standard. It focuses on understanding key principles and demonstrating how that knowledge can be applied in practice.

Level 4 is higher-education level, comparable to the first year of university study. It requires greater depth, critical analysis and evaluation of evidence.

Level 4 learners also complete additional online learning, and the written assessment is different to reflect the higher academic level.

You choose your accreditation level when you enrol. If you begin at Level 3 and decide during your training that you would like to move up to Level 4, you can speak to our team about upgrading.

Whichever route you choose, the two-day London training itself is taught to the same Level 4 standard.

Our Maternity Nurse Training is accredited through Open College Network London (OCN London), an established UK awarding organisation.

This means the programme is not simply an internally created Babyem certificate. The course and assessment process are subject to external standards and quality assurance.

For learners, this provides independent recognition of the standard at which they have studied and been assessed.

Yes.

Your accreditation includes written, essay-based assessment after your training. You are given seven weeks to complete and submit this.

The assessment is designed to give you the opportunity to demonstrate not only what you know, but how you understand and apply that knowledge when supporting newborns and families.

The Level 3 and Level 4 assessment papers are different and reflect the academic level you have chosen.

At the end of your two-day London training, you will receive a Babyem certificate of attendance/completion for the face-to-face training.

Your OCN London accreditation is completed separately.

After the training, you will complete your written assessment, which consists of essay-based questions. You have seven weeks to submit your work.

Your work is then marked and goes through the required assessment and quality-assurance process. Once successfully completed, your OCN London certificate is issued.

It typically takes approximately four weeks following the final assessment process for your OCN certificate to arrive.

You may transfer to a future London training date, subject to availability.

We understand that many candidates work in professional childcare roles where schedules can change. If you need to transfer, please contact us as early as possible so we can accommodate you where feasible.

Full terms regarding transfers are outlined in our cancellation policy.

We offer a 14-day refund period.

If you enrol and decide within 14 days that the programme is not right for you, you may request a refund in line with our cancellation policy.

Our learners come from a wide range of professional backgrounds and use their maternity nurse accreditation in different ways.

Many go on to work with families in private households as maternity nurses or newborn care specialists, providing specialist support during the newborn period.

Others use the training to expand the work they already do. For example:

• Nannies may add newborn and maternity work to their existing experience or gradually transition into maternity nursing.
• Doulas may want to strengthen their practical newborn-care knowledge alongside the support they already provide to families.
• Nursery and childcare professionals may use the training to deepen their specialist understanding of newborns and babies.
• Existing maternity nurses may complete the course to update their knowledge, strengthen their evidence-informed practice or gain formal accreditation.

There isn't one single career path. The aim is to give you specialist newborn knowledge, practical skills and a recognised accreditation that you can build into the career that is right for you.

No reputable training provider or agency can guarantee paid work after completing a course.

What we can do is help you become better prepared to take that next step.

One of the reasons we created our Newborn Placement Scheme was because we know that gaining experience, confidence and strong references can be incredibly important when starting or developing a career in maternity nursing.

The optional scheme gives eligible graduates in England the opportunity to connect with families looking for newborn support and put their learning into practice in a real family environment.

Placements are not guaranteed, but the scheme is designed to help bridge the gap between completing your training and building your professional experience. Read the placement details →

Yes. Your training begins before you arrive in London.

You will complete a substantial programme of online learning covering the core knowledge you need before attending the two face-to-face training days.

This means our time together in London doesn't need to be spent simply delivering information you could learn online. Instead, the two parts of the programme work together.

You arrive with the foundations already in place, and during the London training we can go deeper: exploring real-life situations, discussing different approaches, applying the evidence, learning from our tutors and working through topics alongside other professionals.

For many learners, being in the room with others is one of the most valuable parts of the experience. You learn from the questions, experiences and perspectives of the group as well as from the tutors, and many cohorts remain connected long after the training has finished.

Yes. You are required to attend both days in full.

The London course runs from 9:30am–5:00pm on both days, and we cover a significant amount of material across the weekend.

Each day forms an important part of the programme, so if you already know that you cannot attend one of the days, we recommend choosing an alternative course date when you can attend the full training.

We recommend arriving a little before 9:30am so you have time to settle in before training begins.

Our face-to-face Maternity Nurse Training takes place in a beautiful hotel venue in South Kensington, London.

It is very centrally located and easy to reach by public transport. The venue is approximately 2 minutes' walk from Gloucester Road Underground Station, or around 10 minutes' walk from South Kensington Underground Station.

Full venue details are provided when you book.

Accommodation isn't included in the course fee.

Because the training takes place in South Kensington, there are numerous hotels, serviced apartments and other accommodation options within the surrounding area and across central London.

If you're travelling to London for the course, we recommend booking accommodation close to Gloucester Road or South Kensington Underground stations for the easiest journey to the venue.

Find hotels near the venue on Booking.com →
Browse Airbnb in South Kensington →

Lunch isn't provided, but we do provide tea and coffee during the morning break.

There are two supermarkets very close to the venue, as well as plenty of cafés and restaurants around Gloucester Road and South Kensington.

You're also very welcome to bring your own lunch.

You don't need to bring any specialist equipment.

Just bring something you'd like to use for taking notes and, if you prefer, your own lunch.

Everything required for the practical elements of the training will be provided.

Come as you are.

There is no formal dress code and you'll be with us for two full days, so we want you to feel comfortable and relaxed.

Wear whatever you would feel comfortable spending the day learning, talking and taking part in practical sessions in.

You do not need a DBS check to complete the Maternity Nurse Training.

However, once you begin working professionally with families, parents and maternity agencies will commonly expect maternity nurses to have an appropriate DBS check and professional insurance.

We therefore recommend putting these in place as part of preparing to work professionally after your training.