Have been told Au Pair can't look after children under 5, is this true?

[Cazmcbaz]

I am trying to sort out childcare for September and was planning on trying to find an au pair, but have just been advised that they shouldn't look after children under 5. Does anyone know if this is true or not? (dds 4 & 2)

Depends on what you mean by "look after". A true au-pair should not work more than 5 hours a day although I thought the age under which the au-pair should not have sole charge was lower than 5 - maybe more like 3? If you Google au-pair rules, you will get lots of info including direct from the Home Office site. A true au-pair usually has limited childcare experience (that's why you don't pay them much!)so shouldn't be used as full-time childcare. I think if you are only working part-time or combining your au-pair care with nursery/school it can work but otherwise you probably need to look at a childminder or nanny.

I was told no sole charge for under-3s by local agency, and rule of thumb no sole charge for > 2.5 hours. Doesn't stop some families using them for more than that, including us occasionally, but I wouldn't recommmend it. Looking back, I don't think they were up to it.

Aupairs are not supposed to be left in sole charge of any child under the age of 3 for long periods on a regular basis.

What do you mean by "au pair"? Is she actually coming over on an au pair visa which you are sponsoring? (if au pairs need sponsoring -- not sure how it works) If you are hiring someone from the EU, they can have sole charge of your children for however long you like (assuming you feel they are qualified and capable).

Personally, I think 2 years old is borderline. It depends on the au pair and on the toddler. Some will do fine, others will not. It is up to you what you want them to do.

My nanny's last job was as an au pair and she has slid into the nanny role just fine.

Don't get hung up on a job title. IF she is your employee, you may decide what the job description is (within legal restrictions of course).

If you want to give a few more details of the job (i.e. Duties? Hours? Live-in? Where you are?) we could offer some more advice.

Hi, thanks for feedback.
Well I assumed a live in as we have a spare room, but the hours would be to cover getting them ready for school & nursery each weekday morning for a couple of hours, and then drop off (both within walking distance of house). Then pick up at 3.15 for a couple hours until I got back. I'll be studying to do teacher training so the hours may be slightly fluid but term time only.

Thought au pair would be best option, but maybe not as youngest is only just 2?

Live in Upper Norwood, SE London.

It may work Cazmcbaz, as your youngest will be 2.5 by Sept. The guidelines recommend you don't leave your under 3 with an aupair for long periods on a regular basis, but it is not actually illegal.
My only proviso would be to remember that most aupairs do not have much, if any, childcare experience. You could be lucky & find one who does, but most don't.
Quite a few of us on here who have/had aupairs, so as Uwila says, keep asking if you have more Qs.

I think that sounds resonable for an au pair. It's not like she will be doing 12 hour days completely sole charge. Also, if you use an au pair, you can also ask her to do things like cleaning, launry, etc -- things nannies will often frown upon.

But you need to be very thorough and very careful on the interviewing and reference checking. You can probably get an "au pair" with some level of childcare experience and I would also look for one who has previously had any kind of live-in position (just so they know what they are in for in regards to living in someone else's home).