General information about AuPairs            

1. QUALIFICATIONS

All applicants for Au Pair places are aged between 17-27 (applicants can occasionally be accepted over this age). Some experience of baby-sitting and childminding is essential and some Au Pairs have driving licences. Before arrival they must provide an open letter of introduction to prospective host families. It is written in English and outlines their interests and potential contribution to a family. They also provide their CV (in English) ,some photos, a medical certificate and references Copies of all these may be shown to families considering employing an Au Pair.

 

2. CATEGORIES OF AU PAIR

Standard Au Pair: This Category can work for a maximum of 5 hours a day, maximum 5 days a week, with two days completely free. In addition, they may do some baby-sitting. They should be paid minimum £50 pocketmoney a week(between £50-£70), depending on the amount of hours they work.

Au Pair Plus: This Category may work different hours. They do not necessary have to live with the Family. They should therefore be paid accordingly. After each extra hour work they should be getting £3 extra. They also have two days off each week. Unless agreed with the AuPair Plus and the Agency beforehand. They may do additional baby-sitting, for which they should be paid extra. (Their pay is between £70-£140)

 

3. Relationship between Family and Au Pair

An Au Pair comes to England mainly to learn the Language.

(S)he is probably very anxious , just moved away from home, family and friends, to a different country. (S)he usually arrives alone, feels slightly alienated, since (s)he does not speak the language much and therefore finds it difficult to settle into his/her place.

They need help or instruction with most of their tasks in the first week, even with cleaning, to get used to Fairy and Jiff as well as Mr Muscle and Henry. We all know them, but they don’t, though they do learn very quickly. They want to prove that they are good at being your Au Pair. Even though they don’t speak much when they arrive, they are very likely to understand probably most of the things you talk about and it usually does not take very long for them to pick up the language, especially if you don’t give up on them. They want to develop a friendly relationship, but it all takes time.

An Au Pair should be treated as one of the family. Their great advantage to a family lies in them being educated, on the spot and flexible, yet prepared to work for far less money than would be expected by a professional domestic help.

For these reasons, they in turn need to be treated with consideration and flexibility, and helped to pursue their aims. They must, in all cases, be provided with their own bedroom and full board and it will undoubtedly be appreciated if their room is regarded as private, (e.g. Intrusions by children), and is equipped with a desk or table where they can work. If you do not have one spare, a small second-hand television set is an inexpensive luxury to provide in the room. It gives the Au Pair the freedom to choose more understandable programmes than the family might perhaps watch. This is a great aid to learning English.

Finding time to talk, making an effort to introduce them to English people of their own age, and taking them on outings where possible (provided that no cost for them is involved) are all attentions likely to bring goodwill.

 

4. Au pairs with driving licence

If it is essential that your Au Pair drives your car, please remember that they are unlikely to have experience of driving on the left side of the road, or of a right-hand drive car. If you need your children to be taken in the car by the Au Pair then it is advisable to pay for some lessons with your local driving school, preferably in your car. You must insure your car fully for his/her use, and you cannot expect any Au Pair to pay for any damage done. Petrol must be provided for use on duty, whilst personal use when off duty should be decided between the family and the Au Pair.

 

5. English classes for au pairs

One of the major reasons that Au Pairs come to England is to learn English, often with the aim of taking the Cambridge First Certificate, Advanced or Proficiency exams. It is very helpful if you can make enquiries at your local Tech/FE College/University before your Au Pair arrives. This is particularly important if you live in or near London where language classes tend to be oversubscribed. Many families like to make a small contribution towards the cost of classes (fees normally payable at the beginning of each term).

 

6. Holidays and travel
   An Au Pair often appreciates the chance to return home for Christmas, (less likely to stay home for the New Year,) and possibly in the Summer, while you are also on holiday. If (S)he is with you for less than a few months, then it is unpaid holiday. Otherwise, over 6 months (S)he must have at least one weeks paid holiday.
   
   They are responsible for paying for their own travel as far as Central London or their trips to other places are concerned. However, on outings with you, or their travel from and to their own country, some families might want to make a contribution towards the price of their tickets for their coach journey. However, It is their responsibility to pay for their ticket from and to their countries.
   
   (The coach ticket costs under or around £100 return to all these countries: the Czech Rep., Slovakia , Hungary, Macedonia, Spain, Portugal, Ukraine, France, etc.)