Being an au pair from the UK

[PenelopePitstops]

Has anyone done this?

I have just finished my degree and looking for something to do and this idea keeps cropping up and was wondering what it is actually like?

I have babysat regularly for 4 different families throughout my degree and really enjoy child care.

TIA

Do you mean going to other countries, or going somewhere else in the UK?

going to other countries, I didn't think you could work as an au pair in the UK if you are from the UK

I did it when I was 21. I found a family from Germany on www.aupair-world.net, it was a great experience.

Don't go to France though - everyone I know who went to France hated it.

I like France! If you are seriously interested then my family may be making me redundant and getting an au pair instead and would probably be interested in you (you have a degree, which is one of their requirements!). Nice studio flat, central Paris, one boy who will be 8 years old, plenty of time for language classes and several good colleges near by, good expat community. I love Paris!

You can be a live in Mother's Help in the UK but it's so much better to go to other countries.

I'm an 'aupair' from the UK and love it, however I ended up staying in the UK as this family had more to offer me than the ones abroad did and staying here meant that I could train as a nanny as I worked, which suits us all brilliantly! And AP is in quote marks as I know that technically I am not an AP as I'm not foreign, however I'm not in a nannies or mothers help position either!

If you want to go abroad then do it though I plan to travel once I'm qualified!

You are a mother's help/very PT nanny, pixinanny (if you're who I think you on NJ). APs don't exist in the UK any more - they're classed as live-in domestic help ie. Mother's Helps.

I think I am who you think I am on NJ

But then aren't Mother's Helps there whilst the mother is? This is why I get confused. I call myself a nanny and leave it at that, or Nanny-in-training

Nope - MHs can have sole charge. The distinction is usually that they do more housework than a nanny usually would. It's difficult to define exactly what's what, but home based childcarer covers pretty much everything!

I hate all the names and opinions as to what is what. At first I was an au pair, but then an au pair told me that no, I'm a nanny, but then another told me I'm not a nanny as I'm not qualified or doing enough hours and so on and so forth lol

thank you all for th info, I'm seriously looking into it, I registered on au pair world and had loads of messages already, is this normal?

I don't know any other languages but that doesn;t seem to be a problem so far!

Yeah the messages are normal, just be careful and don't make any rash decisions! (Though I can't really talk in that respect )

If you want to come to Paris I know of several people looking - e-mail me on englishgoverness at gmail dot com

I also know someone in the South of France. French speaking here is often not necessary as they're after English Mother Tongue au pairs to speak English with the children and you can take language classes in the meantime.

Why mother's help?

No idea actually. NJ have a category for Father's Help which I suppose nods towards equality. Surely it would be more PC to have 'parental help'? 'Domestic help' sounds more like a housekeeper... It's just what agencies have always used to describe the role.

I suppose it's the same reason that nannies/childcarers in adverts are always presumed to be female. "She will collect the children from school/nursery, cook tea, supervise homework etc..."

It reflects a male-dominated, female-supressing, you-will-stay-at-home-and-take-care-of-the-children society

To be honest "children's help" would be more accurate in our house.

I am starting to look for an au pair from the UK for just a month to 6 wks in the summer - in Poland, nr Krakow. Maybe a holiday job like mine would help you see how you feel about the job without any long-term commitment? Are you potentially interested?