An Au Pair can assist with childcare and some light housework in exchange for board, lodging and a small weekly allowance. An Au Pair is a cultural exchange visitor who will come to the UK. Therefore, an Au Pair should not be seen as a substitute for a professional Nanny since they are likely to have had very limited childcare experience. They may have looked after younger members of their own family or worked as a babysitter for neighbours. Au Pairs should never be left in sole charge of children under two years old.

In order to employ an Au Pair, you must be able to offer them their own room in your home. Au Pairs are normally expected to work for a maximum of 20-35 hours a week, with limited babysitting in the evenings, and two full days off each week. They must be given time to study or attend a language course. Au Pairs should carry out light housework only, such as ironing, cleaning, walking and feeding pets. Duties such as gardening, window cleaning and scrubbing the kitchen or bathroom are not considered suitable for an Au Pair.

Pocket money for Au Pairs ranges from £80 to £150 per week, depending on the hours worked, experience and family.

To become an Au Pair, you need to be between 21 and 35 years old or more, have experience caring for children, speak English, and be a high school graduate, among other qualifications. And most importantly, all applicants for Au Pair jobs must love children and enjoy spending time with them!

Financial benefits

• Earn a weekly income of £80 to £150 per week
• Enjoy two weeks of paid vacation to travel in the United Kingdom
• At the discretion of the family, you could be provided with paid courses for up to 3 months

Other Au Pair benefits

• Placement with a carefully screened host family
• Free private room and full board provided by your host family

The Au Pair’s responsibilities may include:

• Waking the children
• Dressing infants and toddlers
• Bathing and playing with the children
• Preparing meals for the children
• Looking after the children’s belongings
• Making the children’s beds and tiding up their rooms Doing the children’s laundry
• Cleaning up the kitchen after the children eat
• Tiding up the playroom once playtime is over
• Driving children to and from school, appointments or outings as requested by the host family
• Staying at home while children are absent from school due to illness or holiday

The Au Pair’s responsibilities do not include housework unrelated to the children such as cleaning the home or doing all the laundry. They are not professionally trained child care workers or capable of running an entire household when parents are absent for business or personal travel. Responsibility for the welfare of the children always remains with the parents.