Summer Au Pair
Do you need childcare just during the school holidays? How about a Summer Au Pair?
What is a Summer Au Pair?
A Summer Au Pair is a single person, without dependants aged 18-27 who wants to
learn a foreign language and learn about the culture by living as part
of the family. A Summer Au Pair can be male or female. Most of our Summer Au Pairs
are French but we do also provide other nationalities as well.
A Summer Au
Pair is not a trained childcarer but will have some experience with children through babysitting, looking
after siblings or tutoring - quite a few have the BAFA childcare certificate and have worked as Children's Activity Leaders on summer camps and in leisure centres.
They may also have some experience in housework. The Summer Au Pairs tend to
have a better level of English, be university students, have better experience with children and often have their driving licence. The majority of candidates are available from the end of June to the end of August but it's also possible during the Christmas and Easter holidays. Want an Au Pair with more experience? See Elite Au Pair
What is a Summer Au Pair's role?
A Summer Au Pair has a role that could be considered to be that of an older
sister, or a visiting niece. Summer Au Pairs are primarily expected to help
with the children and also to carry out some light housework which
should be mainly child-related. They are not a replacement for a
cleaner or a hired help.
A Summer Au Pair should be included in family activities including most
mealtimes and some outings. They will expect to be treated as a
family member and not an employee. This is essential if the placement is to succeed.
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About the Summer Au Pair's work conditions
What are the recommended hours and pocket money?
Pocket Money : £60/week for 30 hrs (£65 in London)
£70/week for 35hrs (£75 in London)
£80/week for 40 hrs (£85 in London).
Total Hours : Up to 40 hours a week Mon-Fri. As this is a full time position there should be no
babysitting unless the Summer Au Pair agrees and it's paid at the market rate (£5/hr).
Childcare Hours : Up to 8 hours a day Mon-Fri.
Housework : Max 10 hours a week. An Au Pair must not be the only one doing housework.
Days off/Holiday : Saturday & Sunday
One week's paid holiday every 6 months pro rata.
Optional Benefits An end of placement bonus can encourage an Au Pair to complete their placement.
Use of a car - pay as you go mobile phone etc.
These benefits are all optional and not expected by the Summer Au Pairs.
What can the family ask a Summer Au Pair to do?
A Summer Au Pair's duties include taking the children to / from activities;
helping them get ready in the morning; amusing and supervising them
until the parents come home. They also do
some light housework - this should be largely childcare related i.e.
preparing their meals, tidying their room, cleaning the bathroom &
kitchen, ironing, dusting, feeding the pets etc.
What can't the family ask a Summer Au Pair to do?
- The Summer Au Pair should not spend more than 50% of their time on housework and no more than 10
hours a week. Successful placements rarely involve more than 7 hours cleaning/errands per week.
- The Summer Au Pair should not be the only person carrying out housework duties in the home as this
quickly leads to resentment. The duties they can do are tasks that need doing on a daily/weekly basis.
- The family should not ask the Au Pair to do any heavy cleaning or housework, or maid-like duties - this
includes defrosting the freezer; cleaning the oven; gardening; cleaning the car; changing the parents'
bedding / cleaning their ensuite bathroom.
- A Summer Au Pair should not have sole charge for children under 3 years of age during the day –
if there is any confusion on this, please contact our office for clarification.
==> Please remember - a Summer Au Pair does not replace a cleaner - a cleaner is paid £7-£9 an hour -
significantly more than Au Pair so the expectations should not be the same.
What are the Family's Obligations?
You can find details on all the Family's obligations regarding Accommodation, language lessons, travel arrangements and insurance on the FAQ page.
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The BAFA certificate
The BAFA is a childcare qualification involving 3 training periods. The first is theory where they study the behaviour of children and different methods of looking after all ages.
This is then put into practice in the second period where they work in a children's holiday camp as an assistant monitor, and in the third period they become a monitor where they have their own group of children that they look after. It's a very respected diploma in France and demonstrates good experience with children.