NATIONAL NURSERY EXAMINATION BOARD
OLD COLLEGIANS
NNEB OC
Since 1945
Gold Standard Childcare Experts
United Kingdom & The World
Welcome
The National Nursery Examination Board Old Collegians (NNEB OC) is the international professional network for those who qualified under the former National Nursery Examination Board (NNEB), widely regarded as the Gold Standard in British childcare training.
We represent experienced, government-qualified Nursery Nurses who trained prior to the NNEB’s transition into CACHE in 1993, and who continue to uphold the highest standards of professional baby and childcare practice in the UK and internationally.
NNEB Old Collegians is an independent alumni and verification body. While the original National Nursery Examination Board no longer operates, its legacy continues through the knowledge, experience, and professional standards maintained by its qualified nursery nurses.
Our members have trained and worked across hospitals, private households, and educational settings, alongside peers from leading institutions such as Norland, Chiltern Nursery Training College, Princess Christian College and other private and state colleges, reflecting a shared foundation of rigorous, government-recognised childcare training.
We are not an awarding body, and there is currently no reinstated NNEB awarding organisation within the UK regulatory framework.
Today, NNEB OC continues to uphold professional standards through qualification verification services, professional guidance, and industry advocacy.
Through NNEB Paragon Placements, Bookings & Advisory, we support families seeking highly qualified Nannies and Maternity Nurses for private households in the UK and internationally.
Together, these services help ensure that the values, professionalism, and excellence associated with the NNEB continue to influence modern childcare practice for families and professionals around the world.
NNEB Paragon Maternity Training
Continuing the Standard:
Paragon Maternity
Building on the long-standing heritage of the NNEB Old Collegians, Paragon Maternity has been developed as a modern professional framework for private maternity and newborn care.
Paragon Maternity combines professional training, practical experience, and high standards of practice to support those caring for babies and families within private homes.
Inspired by the principles of the original NNEB, it is not a replacement for the former qualification or awarding body. Rather, it reflects the continuation of those values—adapting them to meet the expectations of today's families, private employers, and international working environments.
Through Paragon Maternity, we aim to:
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Promote safe, evidence-informed newborn and postnatal care.
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Support both experienced practitioners and those developing their careers in private maternity care.
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Provide structured professional development and practical learning opportunities.
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Give families greater confidence when choosing maternity professionals.
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Contribute to the ongoing development of best practice and professional standards within the private maternity sector.
Paragon Maternity education programmes are designed to support professional development and prepare practitioners for the realities of working in private newborn and postnatal care. As the sector continues to evolve, our programmes are intended to complement existing qualifications and experience while promoting consistently high standards of practice.
Our Position Today
NNEB Old Collegians stands at the intersection of heritage and modern professional practice.
Through qualification verification, professional guidance, professional training and the development of Paragon Placements, we ensure that the standards once set by the NNEB are not only preserved—but meaningfully advanced for today’s private maternity and childcare sector.
NNEB Day
1st May 2026