Here is a step by step guide to understanding the system and selecting the right Au pair for your family. This information has been provided by Toto’s Au pair Agency www.totosaupairagency.co.uk, a well established agency placing au pairs with families all over the U.K.
Families either have a choice of having a long–term au pair 6–12 months to 2 years or SUMMER au pair from June/July to September/October to help with the children over the school holidays. The summer au pairs can be a great way to get through the summer holidays without pulling your hair out. Not only does the au pair help with entertaining the children they will also keep your house neat and tidy

Nature of the Au Pair Programme:
the au pair programme is a cultural exchange programme and not a contract or work. Au pairs must be welcomed as a member of the family.

Age:
An au pair is aged 17 – 27 (18 – 30 from 2008, if coming on a visa)

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 requires a visa. These hours can be spread out over 5 days per week.

Pocket Money:
Pocket money must be a minimum of £60 per week for 25 hours, regardless of whether the minimum hours are worked.

Babysitting:
Two evening babysitting per week are allowed as part of the programme. Additional pocket money should be paid for any additional evenings

Leisure time:
The au pairs 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 week–end per month.

Holiday entitlement:
The au pair is entitled to a minimum two weeks holiday per year; one week for every six months stay. Pocket money will be paid during these two weeks. If the au pair placement is for a shorter time, holiday is calculated pro–rata. The au pair should not be forced to take holiday to coincide with the family holiday

Light Housework:
A list of suggested light housework duties is in the appendix to these regulations.

Childcare:
An au pair is not allowed to have 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 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:
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 free courses in the UK for EU members. If an au pair chooses to go to a private school, they must bear their own cost, unless the family offers to fund this.

Written Offer:
Your chosen agency shall ensure that the au pair receives a written offer from the family covering the duties and benefits

The host family:
Your chosen agency should ensure that the family is suitable to host an au pair and understands the nature of the au pair programme and that the au pair is there to help the family and is not in charge of the house

List of housework duties 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 household shopping)
Walking and feeding pets
Emptying bins


List of duties considered unsuitable for an au pair

Gardening
Window cleaning
Spring cleaning
Cleaning the oven, other than simple wiping out
Washing carpets
Washing the car
Weekly shopping
Pet training
Clearing up after untrained pets
Making parents bed *
Ironing for parents *
Cleaning parents’ en–suite bathroom *
Polishing silver and brassware *
Cooking the family meal, unless the au pair enjoys cooking and has chosen to do this for the family
Au pairs should not be required to do housework such as ironing, when looking after children of primary school age or toddlers
*these duties can be included where there is less childcare and the children are out of the house for most of the day


Protect Yourself:



Always use a reputable and established au pair agency


Newspaper, internet advertisements or one of the many web–based matching services may appear to be acceptable and inexpensive alternatives for securing an au pair placement. There are, however, potential risks in arranging a placement in this manner. 10 potential risks you face when not using a reputable and established au pair agency

high probability of unsuitable au pair or host family candidates
absence of a written contract
little or no experience in the au pair industry
lack of professionalism or financial stability
nonexistent standards or guidelines
insufficient references and/or medical certification
danger of document falsification
no rematch policy (secondary placement) if the initial placement is unsuccessful
no local support during the placement
limited understanding of national au pair regulations

To find out more about Toto's Au Pair agency call (0)1666841225 or follow the following link below.

www.totosaupairagency.co.uk