What is an Au pair?

What is an Au Pair?

An Au Pair is a young person coming from abroad who lives as part of the family, usually in order to improve their knowledge of a foreign language and to experience a new culture and way of life.

What does an Au Pair mean?

These words come from the French meaning 'at par', or 'equal to' and therefore an Au Pair comes to live as part of the family, being treated as a family member. They have their own bedroom, eat with the family and take part in the occasional family outing or possibly even holidays.

What are an Au Pair's Duties?

An Au Pair is expected to help mainly with the children, baby-sitting, helping the children to get dressed, seeing to their breakfast, light meal preparation, keeping their rooms tidy, taking them to school and collecting them at the end of the day. An Au Pair is usually expected to help in the home with light household duties such as dusting, hoovering, ironing and bed making. It should be remembered that Au Pairs are not employees or domestic servants and therefore the amount of work that can be expected is limited and adequate time off must be given.

What can an Au Pair expect?

The Au Pair will receive a sum of pocket money, normally between £35.00 - £55.00 per week. Their working day will vary, but will normally be in the region of 5 hours per day. Working hours are regarded as those during which they are required to be available and are not free to leave the house or pursue their own activities. Au Pairs are considered to be working if they are required to be on duty or in the home or with the children even if they are not actively involved in caring for the children, for example if the children are sleeping. Free time is usually two full days per week, free time for classes, plus several evenings by arrangement with the host family. Host families must provide all the information regarding duties, free time and pocket money.

General Points

Au Pairs need a little time to settle into a new family and to become accustomed to a new way of life, different food, new customs and a new environment, therefore a little patience and understanding is required by the host family and by the Au Pair.

Using an Agency

The Au Pair Agency has to follow a strict code of conduct. The Agency will supply all the information about the host family to the Au Pair and vice versa. Au Pairs must submit character and baby-sitting references (these references are available on request), an essay about themselves, their hobbies and interests and an up-to-date medical certificate. The family will supply a fully detailed application form setting out all the conditions and information about their home and area where they live, language schools and facilities in the area.

The Matching Process

The Agency will endeavour to match Au Pairs and families, taking into account the requests of both the families and the Au Pairs. Details of the Au Pair and the family will be exchanged via fax, post, telephone or email. Once an acceptance has taken place, the Agency will either inform the family of the Au Pairs' travel arrangements and the Au Pair will be met at her destination, or the family will pay his / her transport to their home.

Travel Arrangements

The Au Pair will usually pay his / her own fares to and from their home country. Occasionally the host family will help towards the costs of travel home, once he / she has stayed for the full length of the proposed stay. Families will show their appreciation by offering additional pocket money, or by giving the Au Pair their usual sum of pocket money if they return home for Christmas or any other visit to see their parents.

Language Classes

Most Au Pairs take the opportunity of improving their language skills whilst staying with a European family. Free time should be available for classes and the host family will help the Au Pair to enrol in a suitable language school.

Medical Treatment

Your Au Pair can be registered with your local GP. However, please note that they are under no obligation to accept an Au Pair as a patient. Treatment is normally provided free of charge under the NHS (except for prescriptions). We suggest you register them with an NHS dentist; they will be charged at the same rate as a resident of the UK.

Driving

Some families require their Au Pairs to drive, in which case an International Driving Licence may be necessary. We suggest families give the Au Pair a copy of the Highway Code and either take the Au Pair out for a few test drives, or arrange a few driving lessons at the family's expense, so as to be sure that the Au Pair is a competent driver. The host family must insure the car and pay for petrol if the car is to be used to take the children to and from school, do the family's shopping or other household tasks.

The Way to Success

As long as the Au Pair remembers that this is not a holiday, and appreciates that the family is accepting him / her into their home and offering full board, lodging and pocket money and the family remembers that they are engaging a student and not a domestic, or a substitute for a Nanny or full time child minder, this will be an excellent arrangement. At the end of the stay, both the Au Pair and the family should have fond memories of each other and become, in many cases, friends for life.