Another Au-pair question

[nkweto]

I know there have been a few questions recently, but I have I have an aupair question. I am going to be based in Birmingham, and will be commuting early in the morning and in the evening to/from work. I am considering a live aupair to do the nursery drop offs/pick up prepare evening tea and bathtime before I return home (approx 8pm). Morning routine would take about 2 hours (6.30 - 8.30 am) and evening routine would take about 3 hours (5 - 8pm).

There would be no work to do between 8.30 - 5 However, my DC's are 1 and 3 and I will not be about during the breakfast/nursery drop off or evening routine.... could an aupair manage this and what would be an appropriate salary/pocket money allowance? I would provide lodging, travel card and treat them like a member of the family..

They are a little young for most au pairs to deal with (I would say a verbal 3 year old would be ok but a 1 year old, when you need to work out what they need without them telling you would be too young). Also not ideal for the children to spend a long time with someone who may have poor english when they are still learning to talk. You might be lucky and find an au pair with great english and lots of baby experience (I've had one who had 18 months experience of working in a nursery) but they are few and far between. If you offer pocket money over the tax threshold (it's about £95 a week) you will have to register as an employer and pay NI/income tax for the au pair so most people don't pay more than the limit.
Have you tried asking the nursery staff if any of them would be interested in 'nannying' before/after work. I know when my kids were in nursery a couple of the staff worked early mornings/late evenings bringing the children to nursery with them and taking them home.

I would wonder how many au-pairs would be up at 6.30am. Is that a usual start time for an au-pair?

Like millarkie, I think an au-pair may struggle with a 1 year old at that time of the morning, and in the evening when they (the 1 year old) are tired.

Our au pair is up at 0645 (though she only has to shout at a 12 yo to get moving) and does similar hours to those you describe. However our youngest was 5 before we had an au pair.

Thanks all, I think it is a live-in nanny situation for us then... is it reasonable for me to ask a nanny to start at 6.30 ? I have to have the following ours

6.30 - 8.30 am
5.30- 8.30pm

All other hours and weekends will be their own time.

Yes, you just need to be very upfront about it. You are giving lots of time off during the day, so it may appeal to someone who want's to study during the day perhaps.