Help me to chose phone and phone deal for au pair!

[meadowquark]

Hello, it is as simple as that. I need a cheapish phone for aupair and a cheapish PAYG or a phone deal.

I can buy a 15 old fashioned phone off ebay (would they be put off?). Or a 50 smart phone off ebay.
I can get any free sim from any network. Or the cheapest giffgaff good bag form 7.50.
I am not sure if the phone is needed only for calls/texts between me and the au pair, or do they normally want a proper phone for texting to their newly made UK friends?

The phone deal is not in the contract but I am intending to "be generous" on the spot and top up every now and then. I think that would work better.

I wouldn't bother buying a phone, au pairs will have a phone already. If you want to pay for a sim I would pay for the 12/month giffgaff goodybag which includes unlimited internet as au pair could then use the phone for Skype, whatsapp etc to stay in touch with family/friends at home.

I bought an Alcatel smart phone from car phone warehouse for £19.98 and then top up £10 per month with Vodaphone giving 150mins per month, unlimited texts and 1G of data.
She only uses her Spanish mobile when travelling to and from Spain or in the house on the WiFi as the roaming is too expensive.
She was immensely grateful for the UK phone.

I provide a phone for our aupair, i havegone for a smartphone with the proviso that if they loose it or damage it they replace it. They also need to return it in good nick when they leave. Contract wise i chose tesco as they do a capped deal which means ap cannot run up bills. I pay the monthly bill and in return i expect the au pair to keep in touch and keep safe by usung the data to check times and info etc, and also keep in contact with family and friends. It has worked fab with our two aps so far. 3 also do cheap capped deals.

All our au pairs have brought their own smart phones with them and I've helped them get a UK package for it. I've always offered a phone but they want to bring their own. Have you asked your new au pair?

Thanks! I have now bought a cheap smart phone off ebay with the idea that aupair may want to keep his Spanish sim card in his Spanish phone.
Now off to look for capped deals as I have never heard of them before!