WHAT IS AN AU-PAIR?

Au Pairs are young women and, since 1993, young men from specific foreign countries who live in the United Kingdom as a member of an English-speaking family under Home Office regulations, for up to 2 years to learn English.

The arrangement is that, in exchange for board and lodging and a reasonable allowance, they help part-time with such tasks as child care and light housework. There is no such thing as an English au pair, nor an Australian or New Zealander. Commonwealth country nationals can come over here under the 'Working Holidaymaker' scheme. Nationals of the European Economic Area can, of course, enter the UK to work or study without any formalities.

Au pairs may be from 17 to 27 years old. They must be unmarried and have no dependents.

Au pairs may help for up to five hours a day with at least two full days off a week. The Home Office does not specify how much the allowance should be but we recommend a figure of approximately £60.00 for the au pairs we supply. They may also be expected to baby-sit for up to two evenings a week; for any baby-sitting in addition to this, au pairs should be paid the going rate. You should satisfy yourself of the au pair's childcare experience before leaving them in sole charge of a baby under one year of age.

Au pairs should be welcomed as social equals, be treated as one of the family, and be helped to feel at home. We suggest that both sides may benefit from a simple contract agreeing what is expected of them, and we are happy to provide such an agreement. They should be given due notice of baby-sitting duties, be paid on a set day, not have the allowance docked when ill, know exactly when 'time off' is. After six months they should be offered some paid leave. They should be given free to time attend appropriate language classes and if desired religious services.

The hours may be flexible by mutual agreement and some au pairs may be willing to work longer than 5 hours per day at an agreed hourly rate.
We do recommend that au pairs attend a basic first aid course such as those run by the St.Johns Ambulance. If an au pair arrangement does not prove successful during the first four weeks, Alice Nannies need to be informed in writing and we will provide further introductions at no extra cost. We cannot give refunds of introduction fees.