Considering an AP - tips/advice Please!!!

[slipperandpjsmum]

We are considering an AP. As we are new to this advice would be very welcome! Do all AP live in? We have a self contained unit that she could use. What sort of pay does an AP require. How well do they fit with your family? Why did you choose an AP rather than alternative methods of childcare?

Thanks very much in advance.

What do you want an au-pair to do? Some can be great at entertaining children... others can be terrible. Some can be great at doing household chores, others terrible.

Thought I recognised your username... you aren't thinking of having an au-pair to care for your 2 year old all day on a Thursday are you?

They may be able to the after-school things for you older children though and they would be able to help put wash loads on, hang washing, empty/load dishwasher etc.

An au-pair is usually paid below the National Insurance LEL so that tax is not payable. So max of £97 a week. Yes they are usually live-in as part of the family... though that could mean a separate annex.

You might want to consider getting one through an agency but it would be better if you can find one who is already in the country and is looking for a new family. You can interview the person before taking her/him on - that was how we got ours. We paid her £75/week, she worked 5hours a day. When our cleaner went AWOL, we paid our AP £20 a week to clean the house and she would babysit in the evenings for £10. She was great with my 2 boys, they love her and although she left for uni last march, she still spends the summer with us.