Luan Li is one of the most sought-after nannies in London. Born in Dalian, north of Beijing, she is a native Mandarin speaker, is fluent in English, has a fistful of childcare qualifications and years of experience of looking after children.

“I came here to study English and while I was doing my Master’s I worked in a nursery in Crouch End teaching Mandarin. I went back to China on a visit and when I came back the nursery had closed down. So I began to work directly for families looking after their children as a nanny,” she told The Times.

She currently works for a family in Waterloo as a “nanny teacher”, caring for their 15-month-old son and helping him to become accustomed to the distinctive tones of Mandarin.

“He is doing really well. He can only say a few words but he understands a lot more. I teach through play, so we do animal names and colours and he knows exactly which ones are which. It comes very naturally at this young age and he will have a great accent,” she said.

Her employers are English but want their son to get off to a head start in speaking Mandarin. “His parents think China is becoming stronger and stronger and that it will be good for his future to have a really good understanding of the language,” she said.

Ms Li, 34, who recently became engaged to her English boyfriend and lives in Surrey, thinks it is pity that Mandarin-speaking nannies are in such short supply. “My phone is always ringing with parents wanting their children to be able to learn Mandarin. But I know it is very difficult. I hope the changes which will allow students to work once they have graduated will mean many more children will get to learn Mandarin,” she said.

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