Au Pair in England: What is Au-Pair?

"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 seeks families eager to learn about another culture by hosting a young person who, in turn, provides child care. "APIE-Au Pair in England" has done a lot of research regarding cultural hosting programs and has many years of experience with placing au pairs and host families together.

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 aged under 2. Most au pairs have limited childcare experience. In the event that the family decides to leave the au-pair in sole charge of children aged under 2, it is their sole responsibility.

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. Their responsibilities do not include heavy housework unrelated to the children such as cleaning the windows, cleaning the home or polishing.

Au-pairs must be prepared to help their host with general light housework and help with children.

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.

The British Au Pair Agencies Association recommends a minimum of £65 per week. This must be paid on a weekly basis to the Au-Pair.

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.

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.