WHAT IS AN AU PAIR?
As au pair you take part in a cultural childcare program. You get the opportunity to earn and learn.
Within the EU, there are NO upper age limits or restrictions and au pairs in more flexible variations have evolved in recent years because there is no need for a visa.
Traditionally, for the au pair program you must fit the following:
- Age 18 or over
- be unmarried and have no children
- be flexible, friendly and open
- be happy to help with childcare and light housework for 25-40 hours per week
- stay for a minimum of 6 months
- stay for a maximum of 24 months
- be fit and healthy
- no criminal record
Most au pairs are young people who will stay with a host family as a temporary additional member of the family. The au pair should help look after the children and do some housework in exchange for a comfortable room, pocket money, food & drink, the chance to learn English and to get a taste of the host family’s cultural and social life. We encourage host families to involve their au pair in family activities from shared meals to sports and days out.
Exceptions
Sometimes families look for help with an elderly relative or help with pets instead of, or as well as, help with the children.
Occasionally there are au pair couples, who can share the work between them, for example in large families or somewhere with a lot of house work. Also, we sometimes have ‘mature’ au pairs, who may be mums with grown up children, wanting to take the opportunity to learn the language.
COULD I BE AN AU PAIR?
Au Pair (25-30 hours per week)
- Works 5 hours per day, 5
days per week
- Baby sits 2-3 evenings per
week
- Receives 2 free days and 3
evenings off
- Recommended pay from
£70 - 25 hrs
- No sole care for children
under 2
Au Pair Plus (30-35 hours per week)
- Works 6 hours per day, 5
days per week
- Baby sits 2-3 evenings per
week
- Receives 2 free days and 3
evenings off
- Recommended pay from
£ 85 - 30 hrs
- No sole care for children
under 2
Mother's Help* (35+ hours per week)
- Works up to 10 hours, 5
days per week
- Baby sits 2-3 evenings per
week
- Receives at least 1
free day and 3 evenings off
- Weekly pay from £100 - 25 hours, from £120 - 35
hours, from £150 - 40 hours
- More responsibility,
younger children and/or longer hours
Tutor** (25-30 hours per week)
- Works 5 hours per day, 5
days per week
- Baby sits 2-3 evenings per
week
- Receives 2 free days and 3
evenings off
- Recommended pay from
£100 - 25 hrs
- Real focus on educational support, school age children
*mother's
helpers or tutors are not officially part of the au pair cultural
exchange scheme. They are candidates who are willing and able to take
on higher levels of responsibility, but not fully qualified like a
nanny or teacher. Please read more information about mother's help or more information about tutor program.
We can help find candidates from the EU who are willing to
work over 35 hours and/or offer more experience. Pay varies depending
on age, experience and hours. Tax and NI contributions are payable as
soon as pay is more than £115 per week. (£ 6,035 tax year 2008/09) Extra hours for au pairs are usually paid at minimum £4 per hour.
These are an indication only. For more information about pocket money, see our salary guide.
EXPERIENCE REQUIRED?
For many jobs a real affection for children is the only requirement. Practical experience is an advantage, even if it is only babysitting, as is an outgoing nature for coping and living with new people in a foreign country. You should also be flexible, honest, mature and responsible.
Au pairs with extensive experience in childcare are however very popular. If you have a background in education or you have been au pair before, we can often find you a position very quickly. Some families are prepared to pay more for experienced au pairs, especially if you are willing to look after yournger children.
Additional advantages:
- Talents/sports that you can share with the children (such as swimming or painting)
- Flexibility and enthusiasm
- (International) driving license
- Understanding of first aid
- Fair level of English (and write in your ' more about you' section what other languages you speak!)
If you have more experience, you may consider being a mother's help. Expect to be asked specific questions about your experience during your interview.
EXPECTED TASKS
Tasks will vary by family, but expect the following to be part of your duties in most families.
- Wake the children in the morning and get them ready
- Help the children to tidy their rooms and make their beds
- Prepare breakfast and lunch for the children
- Clean up breakfast dishes
- Make sure children have books and homework for school, drive children to/from school (if needed)
- Tasks while children are at school: shopping, light housework
- Prepare a healthy afternoon snack
- Assist the children with their homework, initiate and supervise play
- Help the children with their bath routine and help get them ready for bed
Host families describe their requirements on the profile and they are able to prepare a handbook, that smartaupairs provides them. It helps to define the job so that expectations are clear.
WHAT LEVEL OF POCKET MONEY FOR HOW MUCH WORK?
Pocket money varies depending on the number of hours and the level of experience of the au pair. For more detail, see our salary guide.
Basic payment
In all cases, families should provide a comfortable room and full board (all meals included) for the au pair. Working hours should allow an au pair to study and attend structured classes. Two days per week should be free and suitable compensation should be received if extra work is required.
Additional payment and rewards
Some families, especially in remote areas, will also contribute towards travel expenses. There are also families who are prepared to pay for or contribute towards the cost of English lessons.
It is very important to agree in advance what you expect from each other.
HOW ABOUT FREE TIME?
An au pair should have 2 days and several evenings per week of free time. New friends are usually quickly made through English classes and children’s activities. In the first weeks, you can ask the host family to help find other au pairs in the area.
HOW TO GET THERE?
There are many low cost airlines that offer flights to (regional) airports. Coaches also travel to Britain, which allows you to bring more luggage and often for lower costs. Au pairs are expected to pay for their own flight to the host family. The host family will pick you up from the airport or arrange for collection. For more information, see travel in FAQs & information.
We can also help au pairs already in England to move to a new family.