Is this okay for an Au Pair?

[TheGirlWithAPrince]

Hey everyone im posting this on behalf of a friend as she doesnt know if this is acceptable payment for an Au Pair
So she is looking to get an au pair to help out with a 2 year old and a 3 year old - Timetable would be roughly this

Monday to wednesday
8 am - 9am Get both kids dressed after breakfast ( breakfast done by mum) - Take both toddlers to Nursery
Free til 3pm - Pick up toddlers from nursery
Play with toddlers / keep them entertained til 5pm ( clean up after them)

Thursday & Friday

10am - 2pm just look after both kids ( letting them play outside etc but no chores needing to be done other than cleaning up after the kids) maybe taking them somewhere ( park or play group or friends house etc)

Saturday and sunday Off

This would be in Newbury - how much would you pay someone per week for that? and do you think that sounds okay, there wont be any chores techniquelly just cleaning up after kids so any cups/dishes in the dishwasher, clothes put away and toys put away after use etc so general tidying

oh also times can be changed to suit part time jobs etc as long as 9am drop off and 3 pm pick up from nursery stays the same :)

I’ve never had an au pairs, but from what o understand, they shouldn’t be in sole charge of young children. So nursery drop offs etc are probably okay, but the Thursday / Friday role sounds more like a nanny than an au pair.

Would it help if the mum is still at home whilst care is being done? as she uses the time to work on her own business but she will be there to help when needed

£70-85/week is standard it seems.

www.gov.uk/au-pairs-employment-law/au-pairs

When you say free till 3pm Mon-Wed. Who would collect the kids from nursery if they were sick etc or if they couldn’t go. If it the au pair then they aren’t 100% free they’re on call so that must be reflected. Is accommodation provided?

That’s exactly the sort of thing I did as an au pair. It was 25 yes ago in Paris though. Sounds ok to me.

@hellywelly3 the mum would :) She will actually be at home most of the time monday to friday working on the pc or cleaning.

I think 75- 85 would be good

oh also yes accomodation and food provided

As long as she gets someone who is capable around young children that's absolutely fine.

I'd also get the mum to include one evening a week babysitting in the contract - she doesn't have to use it but it's nice to go out for an hour or two once the kids are asleep.

What would be the provisions if they want to attend English classes?
Lots of info here- bapaa.org.uk/host-families/what-is-an-au-pair/

that sounds fine.

Does the Thurs & Friday include lunch? I imagine the kids will get hungry between 10 and 2pm?

Our au-pair also did all the children's laundry which was v helpful, and we paid a bit more (also based in London).

When the au pair has time off, can she travel anywhere on public transport to meet friends / do stuff? It is worth making a job nice for an aupair, which might mean giving lifts to the station at weekends or otherwise enabling the aupair to get out of the house. Otherwise you get a miserable aupair who mopes in their room all the time.

so everyday the kids will have a packed lunch ready for the day
Au pair can do whatever she wants during the day and would give her a travel card to do so - my friend is finding this so helpful so than you guys :D I also have 2 toddlers so finding this interesting for myself too Haha

Evening babysitting is a good idea if she wanted to earn a bit more money , Would definitely be looking at getting someone aged 20 or over and there is plenty of language schools in Newbury so she could join a class and would be able to sort out some flexibility for that

I understand often some travel is also included so bus pass or whatever or an amount on a pyt card per week. I think you are meant to treat them as if they are an older child of your own in terms of time to go to college own room, travel costs and decent pocket money for work done - personally for the hours I would say the payment smentioned were on the low side

In my area au-pairs get around £100-£120 pw (South England)

@RB68 but its 14 hours a week? so that would be £6 per hour plus as said travel food and accomodation is included, so surely thats actually a really good price?

Do they not get nmw?

@namechange30000 no because otherwise people would just employ normal people and not give people accomodation and food and look after them they would just get a live out nanny

OP, make sure you’re not confusing an au pair with a live-in nanny.

Au pairs are young girls who come over for the experience and to improve their English. You pay them pocket money but they’re meant to be a part of your family, included in meals, family outings etc.

If you want an employee and you’re looking at hourly rates, you need a live-in nanny. £6 p/h is nonsense. You obviously need to pay them at least the minimum wage. The rate you’re allow to deduct from pay for accommodation is £8.20/day. Obviously, it’ll difficult to find a nanny for such hours.

Tbh I think your friend should think about what 'au pair ' actually means.

I think £75 - £85 is too low. Your children are very young.

The au pair would be doing 23 hours a week,
minding two toddlers for £3.26 an hour

That is not what Au Pairs are supposed to be doing....

@Destroyedpeople

That is not what Au Pairs are supposed to be doing....

What are they meant to be doing? That’s an interested question rather than a snarky one.

Too many hours for an au pair. The Mon to Wednesday routine would be ok but childcare during the rest of the week is too much. School age children is ok for an au pair but two toddlers is taking the piss somewhat.
The payment suggestion sounds very low. I paid £80 a week 25 years ago to our au pair.

No, that's not what aupairs should be doing.

They are a big sister and meant to be part of the family, and definitely not in sole charge of two very young children.

My children are still in touch with their aupairs we had when they were little. We paid £100 a week plus a phone sim. Their job was to help me out and improve their english, plus a couple of nights a week babysitting if needed.

I'd not have been comfortable asking a 18/20 year old to get two toddlers ready for nursery on their own. You'd need about 8 arms for that 😆 If Mum is available until 8, then you shift the timetable earlier so they are doing things together, mum and aupair. Aupair is just an extra, not the care giver on a regular basis.

That's too little money for too much work as an au pair. You can spot families taking you for a walk a mile away. I was paid more than that to pick up an 8+10 year old from the local school and look after them until 6pm every night. I didn't even have to do their dinner. I often did though because I was part of the family and liked helping. No other cleaning duties etc. This was in 2010 and I was paid €100 per week. Come on, be nice.