All things au-pair - best way to find the right one and other things i should know/consider?

[gingerparkin]

Hi
Looking for some advice/info/nuggets of wisdom regarding Au Pairs!

As a bit of background, I have 2 DDs, ages 8 and 10. I work full-time in a demanding job which I have to do as I am the sole breadwinner and am also principal carer (divorced).

My girls currently go to breakfast and after school club and have been in FT childcare since they were babies. Whilst they are happy, I have noticed recently that they are getting tired. All our days are long. It almost seems that they are transitioning into another phase where afterschool club 5 days a week just isn't the best thing any more. I can't help but feel they need more down-time in their home. I am also exhausted from the mission to fit in work and commute between 8-6 and the need to travel across london and desperately need more flex in the day. I can't afford a nanny and haven't had any luck finding anyone who will do after school care alone, hence my thinking about exploring the idea of an Au Pair. My daughter starts Yr7 next year and I guess an Au Pair arrangement would also help with the dilemma of her being home alone for 3 hours a day after school.

I have a spare room.

In your experience, does an Au pair sound like a good option for this scenario? If yes, what are your recommendations for finding the right one, what else do I need to know and really what should I be considering? Importantly, what should I be planning for financially?

Thanks in advance!

I don't have any advice about au pairs but just wanted to say that we found an after school 'childminder' by asking the teaching assistant for my dds class if she knew anyone that would be interested - and she said she would like to. A bit of a long shot but it might be worth asking the ta's at your children's school before going down the au pair route if you are not sure?

Sounds like an ideal aupair role! There have been lots of good threads on how to recruit. I would stay away from gumtree, lots of strange ads on there. Go to Au pair world and set up a profile. Log in as an au pair and look for a hostfamily and read through a few ads to get ideas on what to put in yours. Describe duties, your area, the girls interessts etc.
Think about what country you are interessted in and what language could be useful to your girls (i.e do they study french at school? Heritage? )
Think about what level pf english you require? Then sit back and wait for applications, and do be proactive and apply to girls who you like the sound of. Look for applicants that appeal to you, that have younger siblings and have an interesst in children and childcare.
Email. Skype. And look forwards to welcoming your new au pair!!

Perfect for ap role.

I agree after school club for a 10 year old is not ideal. Somewhat developmentally over that I'd say!

Ap can take dc to swimming lessons, dance, tennis.. What ever takes there fancy! Far more tailored to them individually.

Ap world is my choice too.

I was an aupair for 3 months in Spain, and this sounds like ideal aupair work to me! Just 3 hours of down time supervision (and I'm guessing breakfast and doing the school run?) with semi-independent aged children would be really appealing to lots of aupairs, so you'll most likely have lots of applicants.

It sounds perfect - you nee to decide though whether you can put up with someone living in your house and I would really recommend getting an au pair who wants to get out and about, meet other people and not tag long with you and the family all the time.

I'd also really recommend insisting that they take and pay fora language course as it ties them in for a certain length of time and gives them an opportunity to make friends.