Au Pair Programme UK

 

Duties

Primarily, the au pair helps you looking after your children. Besides childcare, helping with household chores forms part of an au pair's duties.

Check with your au pair well in advance what his/her exact duties will be. It is also recommended that these duties are defined in the au pair contract. Find more information on our page Contract, insurance, driving licence & Co.

Costs

Hosting an au pair consequently leads to higher living costs. An au pair is an additional adult living with you at home.

Board and lodging

An au pair is entitled to free board and lodging at your home during the complete stay. The same also applies in case of illness and during the au pair holidays. Furthermore, the au pair receives a weekly pocket money from you.

Pocket money

Au pair: The au pair's pocket money in the UK is normally approximately 55 GBP per week. Some official sources recommend a weekly allowance between 40 and 60 GBP.

Au pair plus: According to some sources, an au pair plus weekly receives 60 to 75 GBP as pocket money. Other sources state that he/she receives the regular amount of pocket money for the first 25 hours. Every additional hour will be paid extra.

Working hours

Au pair: an au pair normally works 25 hours per week.

Au pair plus: an au pair plus works approximately 35 hours per week.

Time off

Au pairs in the UK are entitled to one day off per week. This day should be on a Sunday at least once every month.

Holiday

There are no consistent regulations concerning the au pair holiday. Check with your au pair how much holiday he/she will be entitled to. Our recommendation: an au pair gets four weeks holiday provided that he/she stays in the host country for 12 months. Au pairs and host families can take this value as a basis for calculating the amount of holiday in case of shorter placements.

Language course

An au pair should attend an English language course in order to optimally learn the language. The au pair normally bears the cost himself/herself. As a host family, you may help your au pair find a proper class next to your home.

Termination

The legal period of notice is 14 days. This period of time allows you to find a replacement. At the same time, organise the return trip of your current au pair or find a new host family for your au pair.

More information for host families in the UK:

• Quick Check for host families
• Entry requirements for au pairs
• Contract, insurance, driving licence & Co.

Further information for au pairs in the UK

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[Last update: July 2011]