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Childcare-Online.com |
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Childcare-Online.com |
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Your
Families One-stop solution to finding the right childcare |
What is an Au-pair?
The Au-Pair arrangement offers a good opportunity for girls & boys from Western and Eastern Europe to learn a new language whilst living as a member of a resident native speaking family. Au-Pair applicants are usually available for a minimum of 6 months. There are a number of au-pairs who want to come for approximately 2 months during the summer holiday period.
Age & Duties
Most Au pairs are between 18 and 27 years of age.
An Au-Pair must be prepared to help their host family with general light housework and to help with young children for up to five hours per day, or a maximum of 25 hours per week. In addition, 2 evenings babysitting per week would be reasonable. It cannot be too strongly stressed that au-pairs are not trained nannies or domestic servants, they should not be expected to take sole responsibility for children or household duties. Several weeks "training" may be necessary before s/he can do their share of the light housework. During school holidays, an Au-Pair may be asked to look after children more when the mother is working. Families are expected to compensate for this either in pocket money or free time. However, au pairs should never be expected to work excessive hours.
An "au-pair plus" will work more than 25 hours a week for extra pocket money.
What Countries do they come from?
Au-pairs come from many countries, it is very important you check that there is an au-pair agreement between your two countries and they are legally allowed to be an au-pair in your country. More details on this can be found in the au pair database members area.
Free Time and Conditions
The Au-pair should be given free time daily to study or to pursue other interests. Two whole days a week must be completely free and any evenings when babysitting is not required. S/he must have their own room where they can study in comfort, however the Au-Pair must also be made to feel that they are welcome to share in the social life of the host family, as if s/he were a member of it. Not to do this may lead to an au-pair becoming very homesick and lonely and eventually lead to them wishing to leave the family. An au pair will normally be given one weeks paid holiday for every 6 months worked.
Language Tuition
Most au-pairs wish to follow a language course, usually for a few hours 2-3 times a week. This may take the form of private lessons or group classes at a private language school or technical college. Au-Pairs are responsible for their own fees, but it is extremely helpful of the family to assist them in finding the most suitable and convenient classes. Remember that the Au-Pair's attendance at classes legally takes precedence over their work for you, but obviously it is sensible that the girls' classes are at a time that is convenient to the family, both from the point of view of them getting there and back and from the point of view of the cost of those classes to the au-pair. For example, the au-pair is responsible for their own fees but if the family wishes them to attend in the evenings or at non normal times it would only be right for the family to pay the extra cost between the basic morning or afternoon classes and those in the evening.
How much does it cost to have an au pair?
In the UK the Home Office recommends a minimum weekly pocket money of £45. In other countries it will be approximately the same in your currency. The family also provides all food and a room for the au pair. To arrange an au pair for you, an agency would normally charge upwards of £200 (or equivalent) but by using the childcare-online website and sourcing your own au pair you will only pay a small membership fee to cover site administration and marketing. An au pair will normally be given one weeks paid holiday for every 6 months worked.
Click on a link below to make a free search of our Au-pair Database.
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WorldWide database of au pairs and families with online chat rooms. |
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