Au-pair questions

[Arscal]

An Au-pair isn't quite right for us just at the moment but something that could work when our youngest are at school I think (dreams of a day when I'm not paying ridiculous nursery fees).

I'm just mulling it over a little..

Would looking after the children before and after school and during holidays be too much an au-pair if the children we're say 5 and 3/3 (eldest in reception class and twin boys in full time pre-school? I understand they are not trained childcare professionals so am wondering what ages of children and how many children would be OK?

I know a lady that has au-pairs but she has a beautiful (huge) home, runs a successful business etc... would an au pair be happy with a (significantly) less wealthy family?

Anything else that I should bear in mind?

Depends on the school holiday hours. Before and after school is fine but if it were say 10 hours a day during school holidays then you may find that is a bit much for some au-pairs. Using a holiday club for some of the time may help to split up the day. If au-pair is doing a lot of hours, then pay will be higher and as a consequence it will be taxable. More paperwork for you, more cost.

Depends on the au-pair though, some can be fantastic, others you feel are not able to really care for a pet, yet alone a child.

Consider practical things, would you need a driver? If so, then that may mean you need someone aged 21+ who has driving experience and they may well have quite a lot of care experience in their home country.

At age 18 I was looking after children during school holidays. We got by, spent quite a lot of time at the local park. As I am in my 40's now I can not remember that much but I would guess it was only for a few days per week, not all week.

Work life balance. Spend some of your annual leave with your children. Au-pair does a few days, you do a few days, your DH/DP does a fee days. Grandparents help out. Whatever you can do to split things up so no one person does the majority of childcare during the school holidays.

Grandparents work full time so can't really help out but

Oops!
Grandparents work full time so can't really help out but of course my husband and I would take time off during the holidays! An issue is to cover all school holiday, we wouldn't have enough annual leave, even is splitting so we never take time off at the same time. Holiday clubs are a good idea, there's one local to us for 3 weeks of the summer holidays for example.

We wouldn't need a driver as everything is pretty close by and a decent language school a short bus journey away.

I hadn't thought about hours in relation to tax, thanks for that too!

I was an au pair in a normal family, no need to be super-wealthy! They do need their own room, though.

I had loads of au pair friends, and what really made a difference was the attitude of the parents. They treated me like an employee, which was great: clear boundaries between on and off time, etc. A friend worked for a very glamorous family that had none of that, and she hated it.

Yes definitely would have their own room. G

Oh my word, juggling iPhone and children unsuccessfully!!!

Apologies, had to give up trying to reply earlier. Yes he/she would definitely have their own room and also a private shower room (not en-suite but on the same level).

So food and board, pocket money, language classes gym membership. Anything else cost wise that we would need to think about?

I wouldn't pay for language classes - au pairs seem to value them more if they pay for them themselves - you can always offer to put something towards them.

Our au pair is lovely and does exactly what I expect her to - but I couldn't leave all three children with her for a full day (mine are 8,6 and 3). I think most would struggle with 3 year old twins for more than a few hours. So yes, you'd need to have holiday clubs for the summer holidays.

The only other thing I can think of is WiFi - ours tended to Skype home quite often and a bus pass.

I just hired an au pair for my 6yo and 3.5yo. They will attend school and full-time pre-school from September. We are far from wealthy but we live in London (just about - zone 4, London postcode) so perhaps that appealed a little. We only have 2 bed house so will have to give the kids' bedroom to au pair, and move them into ours, and ourselves will sleep on a sofa bed in our living room. So the space is at premium but I am sure we will manage somehow...

My au-pair will get 90 and that's it. I am thinking to contribute further (Oyster, phone) if everything goes well, but I will not write this into contract. I received >100 applications from Au pair world and have chosen a Spanish guy. He said he was OK to sleep in our dining room and just have space for his clothes; that's how desperate they are for work in Spain.

For school holidays I am intending to use au pair within 25 hour weekly limit - perhaps 2 full days and then drop off/pick up. The rest 3 days my kids would go to holiday club. My holiday club accepts from 3yo so I think my little one will be OK.

Hopefully you will work out something!