Would this be reasonable for an au pair?

[1234ThumbWar]

I'm thinking about returning to work ideally part time, but I think it'd be more likely to be full time. I have three dc's between 11 - 8, the eldest is at secondary school.

If I were able to get the youngest two to school in the morning, would it be reasonable to have an au pair collect them at 3.30 and look after them until 6. She would also have to do some ferrying around to Brownies/music lessons etc. Other than that I'd hope she could make the dc's a meal and do their laundry. We'd get a cleaner, but would ask her to maybe hoover once a week and help keep on top of bathrooms, but no more than DH and I would also do.

What do you think? How much would we need to pay? We have had au pairs before, but I was at home so just needed an extra pair of hands with bathtime etc.

Yes that should be fine. Classic sort of AP style role. £70-80 odd fine too, if you stay in the 25 hour range.

sounds like a typical au pair role.

cant see a problem with that, i think most au pairs do a few more duties than that.

with regards to making a meal, it shouldnt be a problem, but their are some who wont have a clue, make sure you specifiy that you want them to cook meals.

Oh brilliant, I wasn't sure about the sole responsibility thing although they're not little anymore.

NannyI - we had an au pair when they were babies who offered to cook a meal and almost gave them undercooked chicken - luckily I spotted it in time, so yep cooking may be tricky.

What about school holidays, could we ask the au pair to cover those days? Both sets of Grandparents like to see them during the holidays, so it wouldn't be a whole half term, but maybe a couple of days?

What's the best way of finding someone, I used to use an agency but I believe there are lots of websites now.

Yes, just specify in your contract that the normal hours are X but over the holidays you need additional time on these days. And provide the holiday dates - if you have all of them in advance.
It's conventional to pay some overtime on these weeks.

Lots of people like AP World and recruit successfully from there. I found it too time consuming personally - I use Abacus Au Pairs in Brighton which charges like £250 a pop which is worth it for me relative to time spent. I still check references and interview myself but going through Abacus cuts down on the time wasters.

no problem with sole charge of children the ages yours are.... to be fair they could almost look after themselves, ie they dont need feeding / changing, and in the unlikely event something bad happens they can tell you!

im sure in return for a few evenings off au pair could do say 2 - 3 whole days (8 - 6ish) in holiday time... be flexible, perhaps allow thursday friday off one week and mon / tues the next and au pair could take a break to another area without needing holiday, or even friday and monday gives her a long weekend off, in exchange for whole days care for you. win win, so long as you find the right person.

Perhaps you could have 30 hours of work in contract (and not normally use them all, so if au pair does 3 10 hour days in holiday time, it shouldnt cost you more, and she will like the extra free hours during term time = happy au pair / employers relations!)

you sound very reasonable, and im sure most au pairs would jump at the chance to au pair for you!

I used to be an aupair and I did school drop-off (between 8.30-9.30) and pick up, sole charge from 3.30-6. I did hoover the sitting room, toy room once a week and did light cooking every day. At school holiday I worked more and I got paid a flat rate of £5 an hour which was brilliant as I really needed the extra money, and felt that the family didn't take advantage of me. Swopping days and hours can work as well in school holiday but clarify at interview so the aupair knows the facts from beginning.

This sounds like our arrangement (DCs are 11 and 14). Our au pair takes the children to school and either collects or arranges to be at home for when they come home and looks after them until I get back. For the holidays we specify that the hours (25) will be the same but over 3 days rather than 5, we then arrange care for DCs on 2 days a week. It has worked well. Food is sometimes pasta/frozen pizza depending on cooking skills.
We also ask for 6 nights babysitting a month but rarely use more than 2 nights (i live in hope of a social life .
We have had no probs finding anyone, partly because we are in London and because I am not overly worried about lots of experience with young children. I also like au pairs taking a gap year before/after uni as they tend to be up to speed on school work and can help with hw where necessary.
Also au pairs who want to improve their English like the idea of DCs who can have conversations!