"Au pair" means "on par" or equal. An Au Pair is a single person, aged 17-27 who spends time in the UK in order to study English and British culture whilst living as part of a family. In return for full board, lodging and pocket money, au pairs agree to help with the children and perform light household duties.

They are well educated, usually to university degree levels or attending a university. Their goal is to acquire a better understanding and appreciation of British life while living with a British family and caring for their young children. Au pairs become full-fledged family members, sharing a cultural exchange experience which often leads to a lasting relationship with the host family.

APIE – Au pair in England seeks families eager to learn about a different culture by hosting a young person which in return provides child care.

APIE has been around for many years and has a lot of research regarding cultural hosting programes and experience with successfully placing au pairs with families, ensuring they are a suitable match.

Families must ensure that au-pairs have their own room and are be able to attend English language classes.

An au pair is not a nanny and should not be left in sole charge of babies or young children under the age of 2 years. Most au pairs have limited childcare experience. While living with a Host family, the au pairs not only participates in childcare but also other related activites such as light house work and teaching children new skills and languages.

Applicants who want to be an Au-Pair in England must:

• be single and be aged between 17 and 27

• be a citizen of any participating country: Andorra, Austria, Australia, Belgium,  Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland

• have practical child-care experience

• be available within the next six months

• have completed a secondary education

• not have a criminal record and be able to provide a police record check or certificate of good conduct

• speak English at least at basic level

• not have any medical or physical or psychological problems

• be ready to provide the host family with responsible and loving child care

• be able to do some light housework chores such as some ironing, dusting, hoovering

• at all times, be polite, help the family and take the child care responsibilities seriously.

Duties and Responsibilities of an au-pair:

The au-pair's childcare responsibilities may include:

- Awakening the children, dressing, bathing and feeding them
- Playing with children and helping with their homework
- Preparing light meals or helping to prepare meals, making children's beds, doing their laundry, ironing their clothes
- Taking/collecting children to and from school, appointments or outings requested by the host family
- Shopping, vacuuming, dusting and some other light housework
- Staying home if necessary while children are absent from school due to illness or holidays
- Baby-sitting - up to two evenings per week.

The au pair is not a cleaner or a housemaid. They are not expected to undertake heavy household duties such as cleaning the windows, washing walls, gardening or polishing. It cannot be strongly stressed that au pairs are not qualified nannies or domestic servants. They should not be expected to take sole responsibilities for the children or household duties.

Au pairs must be prepared to help their host families with general light housework and childcare duties. If the au pair enjoys being outdoors, tending to gardening etc, let the family know as they would be more than happy to have your help.

It cannot be too strongly stressed though, that aupairs are not qualified nannies or domestic servants, they should not be expected to take sole responsibility for the children or household duties.

During the school holidays an au-pair may be asked to look after the children for more hours when the mother is working. However extra pocket money should be paid to compensate the extra hours worked. Au-pairs are not expected to work excessive hours and families must be considerate.

Pocket Money

The British Au Pair Agencies Association recommends a minimum of £75 per week. This must be paid on a weekly basis to the Au-Pair. An Au pair works 25-30 hours per week (generally 5 hours per day) plus 2 evening babysitting.Free Time and Conditions

The au-pair must be given free time daily to study or to pursue other interests. Two days a week and any evening when baby-sitting is not required must be free.

Police Registration

Aupairs from non EU countries must inspect their passport stamp on arrival, as it may require that they report to the police within 7 days of their arrival, taking with them: passport, two passport size photographs and a fee, currently of £34.

If you are staying in the Metropolitan Police Area, you should take these to the Overseas Visitors Records Office, Brandon House, 180 Borough High Street, London SE1 1LH, between 9am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. If you are not staying in the Metropolitan Area, you should contact your local police force for the address and opening hours of other police registration offices. Applicants are responsible for their own registration fee.

Health Insurance

Au-Pairs are treated under the National Health Service.