ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AN AU PAIR
INTRODUCTION:
Nature of the Programme: The au pair programme is a cultural exchange programme. Au pairs must be welcomed as a member of the family.
Age: Traditionally, an au pair is aged 18– 30, however an au pair without visa requirements (from EU) can also be older.
Hours on duty: Au pairs can be on duty from 25 – 35 hours per week if they are from an EU country. This is limited to 25 hours per week if the au pair is from Bulgaria or Romania. These hours can be spread out over 5 days per week. Longer hours are usually referred to as ‘au pair plus’. Many au pair agencies also offer ‘Mother’s help’ positions; this is not part of the traditional cultural exchange programme, as it usually involves longer hours and schedules can conflict with language classes.
Pocket Money: Pocket money must be minimum £65 per week for 25 hours, regardless of whether the minimum hours are worked. For 30 hours the minimum is £80.
Babysitting: Two evenings babysitting per week are included as part of the programme. Additional pocket money should be paid for any additional evenings.
Leisure time: The au pair’s schedule must provide sufficient time to attend language school, and the au pair shall receive two free days each week and should be offered one full weekend off per month.
Holidays: As from September 2010, Aupairka agency recommends 4 weeks per 12 month period. Pocket money will be paid during this time. If the au pair placement is for a shorter time, holiday is calculated pro-rata at the rate of 1.66 days per month. The au pair should not be forced to take holiday to coincide with the family holiday.
UK National Holidays: We recommends that au pairs are to be given UK National Holidays as free time.
Light Housework: A list of suggested light housework tasks can be found below these guidelines.
Childcare: An au pair is not permitted to have continuous sole charge of children under the age of two.
Room and board: The au pair receives full room and board from the family throughout the stay. The au pair must have her own private room with a window and not be required to share with children, and she should be given facilities to study.
Travelling Costs: The au pair is required to pay their own travelling cost to and from the UK, unless the family chooses to fund this.
Insurance: EU au pairs visiting the UK do not need additional health insurance as they are entitled to use the National Health Service. The au pair may also wish to take out additional travel insurance to cover loss of belongings, repatriation in case of accident, death etc.
Language School and Costs: Au pairs must be given enough time to attend language school. There are many courses in the UK for EU members, which are more affordable due to government funding. These are usually ESOL classes. If an au pair chooses to go to a private school, they must bear their own cost, unless the family offers to fund this.
List of housework tasks accepted as light housework:
• Washing dishes, including loading and unloading dishwasher
• Preparing simple meals for children
• Keeping kitchen tidy and clean, including sweeping and mopping floors
• Loading and unloading laundry into washing machine
• Ironing for children
• Putting washed clothes away
• Vacuuming
• Dusting
• Making and changing children’s beds
• Cleaning children’s bathroom
• Everything to do with keeping their own room/bathroom clean and tidy
• Light shopping (not the entire household shopping)
• Walking and feeding pets
• Emptying bins
www.aupairka.co.uk
INTRODUCTION:
Nature of the Programme: The au pair programme is a cultural exchange programme. Au pairs must be welcomed as a member of the family.
Age: Traditionally, an au pair is aged 18– 30, however an au pair without visa requirements (from EU) can also be older.
Hours on duty: Au pairs can be on duty from 25 – 35 hours per week if they are from an EU country. This is limited to 25 hours per week if the au pair is from Bulgaria or Romania. These hours can be spread out over 5 days per week. Longer hours are usually referred to as ‘au pair plus’. Many au pair agencies also offer ‘Mother’s help’ positions; this is not part of the traditional cultural exchange programme, as it usually involves longer hours and schedules can conflict with language classes.
Pocket Money: Pocket money must be minimum £65 per week for 25 hours, regardless of whether the minimum hours are worked. For 30 hours the minimum is £80.
Babysitting: Two evenings babysitting per week are included as part of the programme. Additional pocket money should be paid for any additional evenings.
Leisure time: The au pair’s schedule must provide sufficient time to attend language school, and the au pair shall receive two free days each week and should be offered one full weekend off per month.
Holidays: As from September 2010, Aupairka agency recommends 4 weeks per 12 month period. Pocket money will be paid during this time. If the au pair placement is for a shorter time, holiday is calculated pro-rata at the rate of 1.66 days per month. The au pair should not be forced to take holiday to coincide with the family holiday.
UK National Holidays: We recommends that au pairs are to be given UK National Holidays as free time.
Light Housework: A list of suggested light housework tasks can be found below these guidelines.
Childcare: An au pair is not permitted to have continuous sole charge of children under the age of two.
Room and board: The au pair receives full room and board from the family throughout the stay. The au pair must have her own private room with a window and not be required to share with children, and she should be given facilities to study.
Travelling Costs: The au pair is required to pay their own travelling cost to and from the UK, unless the family chooses to fund this.
Insurance: EU au pairs visiting the UK do not need additional health insurance as they are entitled to use the National Health Service. The au pair may also wish to take out additional travel insurance to cover loss of belongings, repatriation in case of accident, death etc.
Language School and Costs: Au pairs must be given enough time to attend language school. There are many courses in the UK for EU members, which are more affordable due to government funding. These are usually ESOL classes. If an au pair chooses to go to a private school, they must bear their own cost, unless the family offers to fund this.
List of housework tasks accepted as light housework:
• Washing dishes, including loading and unloading dishwasher
• Preparing simple meals for children
• Keeping kitchen tidy and clean, including sweeping and mopping floors
• Loading and unloading laundry into washing machine
• Ironing for children
• Putting washed clothes away
• Vacuuming
• Dusting
• Making and changing children’s beds
• Cleaning children’s bathroom
• Everything to do with keeping their own room/bathroom clean and tidy
• Light shopping (not the entire household shopping)
• Walking and feeding pets
• Emptying bins
www.aupairka.co.uk