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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

How to find an au pair

14 replies

ilovemyelectricblanket · 17/09/2015 12:01

Hi All,
I need an au pair but we live in a really small town. No train station and buses that stop at 6.30pm.

Ive joined AuPair World and thought Ive mentioned the above many times Ive been flooded with offers.

How do I choose one? And will they leave when they realise that there isn't much to do that doesnt involve a 40 min bus ride.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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lovelynannytobe · 17/09/2015 12:46

I think you need to look at how you can help her/him get out as otherwise you will have a very grumpy au pair (I do not think many would be happy to sit in one place with nothing to do). Can you offer lifts to and from the station? Will she have a use of car? Can you offer a bit more pocket money so they can afford a taxi every now and then?

Lonecatwithkitten · 17/09/2015 13:19

Have you started communicating with them yet. I find that once you start communicating in more detail the start falling by the wayside.??Last recruit 150 initial applications about 70% unsuitable by my criteria. Of those I talked to majority dropped out ( they are talking to lots of families at once). I turned down 5 for several reasons Skype interviewed two actually offered job to both ( not together) one took another job ( she had three Skype interviews in a week). I skyped second and offer her the job she will arrive on Saturday.??Stick to your criteria age wise, many blanket reply when you look at their profile they want to be in London and you are Lancashire. You will whittle them down it just takes time.

Original poster

ilovemyelectricblanket · 17/09/2015 20:37

Hi All
Ive had hundreds of replies. Its quite overwhelming.
So one Ive skyped with and I really like.
Its a guy! Is that unusual???

I have two boys and I think it will work.

So I like him. He is 26. MUCH better educated than myself (is a teacher with a Bachelor’s Degree) and he has sent me his references which Ive read and deemed suitable - if I am to believe them?!

How do I find out if he is an axe murderer?? How do you do that?

He wants the job. Im happy to give him the job. Im not going anywhere - Ill be at home with him but what if he is a lunatic? (He didnt come across as one).

I will happily give him lifts to the nearest town. Could possibly stretch to a spare car but reluctant to do that. I see that I will need to do that for a happy au pair.

There is a bus - which Im happy to pay. So thats something?

OP posts:

LUKYMUM · 18/09/2015 09:25

My first au pair used to use the bike a lot. Do you have spare bike?

LUKYMUM · 18/09/2015 09:26

I ask for the country's equivalent of a crb if you have someone who can translate it for you.

Original poster

ilovemyelectricblanket · 21/09/2015 09:33

thanks all.
do any of you know why a qualified teacher professional would want to come here and be an au pair? I can't get my head around why adults who are so qualified want to do this?

OP posts:

DragonRojo · 21/09/2015 12:13

They might come from a country with high unemployment

Lonecatwithkitten · 21/09/2015 13:36

Countries with high unemployment.??Regulations changing requiring teacher to have higher level of English.??Year out before committing to the world of work.??Split up with girl/boyfriend need a change.

SophiaofSpain · 22/09/2015 12:53

Alot of countries have high unemployment and a year abroad with improved english will look great on a CV and up the chance of employment among hundreds of applicants.

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 23/09/2015 17:16

Is he Spanish? As I understand it Spain has recently changed the school system so that teachers (not sure whether just newly qualified or all teachers) have to have a fluent second language. So after qualifying they need to improve their foreign language before they can get a job.

clairepawley88 · 24/09/2015 21:47

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

natlondon · 25/09/2015 11:41

Hi ilovemyelectricblanket, I'm a qualified primary school teacher & I am looking to move into nannying. This is because teaching has got far far too stressful in the last few years & I would rather have a job I enjoy than feel like a robot on a conveyor belt. People probably have lots of reasons to do less qualified work. For me it means having a life

MamieAdom · 26/09/2015 20:07

Hi,

there is a new website that offers Granny au pair service.

You can access directly to the ads online.
mamieadom.com/index.php/en/

Regards

Scarletlips · 28/09/2015 22:36

Hi Ilovemyelectricbanket,
my last au pair was a Spanish primary school teacher. She couldn't get a job as a teacher in Spain without a good level of English. She was great with the kids and it worked out really well for us. Spain has huge unemployment at the moment and teachers seem to have been really badly hit. There seem to be a big number of Spanish teachers looking to be an au pair.

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