Being an Au Pair in the UK

Do you dream of waking up with an English breakfast waiting for you, calling your friends from a red phone box, having tea in the afternoon, or diving into the past in Stonehenge? Then the United Kingdom is the place for you!

Au pairing in the UK is a great opportunity to improve your English and discover English culture living with your host family. As long as you’re between 18 and 30 years of age, without children and some level of English, you can be an Au Pair in the UK. 

In the UK there is no specific programme for Au Pairs, but you would usually earn between ₤70 and ₤85 pocket money for around 25-30 hours work per week. Your main duties would be looking after your host family’s children and doing some light housework in exchange of food and lodging.

When it comes to holidays and spare time, you will be entitled to 2 days off per week, which should be a full week-end once month, and 4 weeks of paid holidays per 12-months.

Travel expenses, English classes and medical insurance are not covered by your host family, so please make sure you have enough money to bear the costs of your trip and your language school. If you’re an EU citizen and have a European Health Insurance Card, you are already entitled to receive some health treatments for free in the UK, but if you are a non-EU citizen, you should get private medical and travel insurance that will cover you for the length of your stay. 

Non-EU citizens coming from Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Korea, Taiwan, British Overseas citizens, British Overseas Territories citizens and British nationals can apply for a Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) visa which has a validity of 2 years. In order to apply for this visa you should be able to prove that you have access to at least 1,890 GBP and have already a copy of your Au Pair contract signed by you host family.

Citizens from Hong Kong, Korea and Taiwan need to have a certificate of sponsorship issued by their government. It's important that you request it in advance as the number of places and sponsorship certificates is limited. After receiving the certificate you need to apply for your visa within 3 months.

Please note that you cannot apply for a Tier 5 Youth Mobility scheme if you are already in the UK or if you have already participated in the Youth Mobility scheme or in the Working Holiday Maker scheme before.

Non-EU citizens coming from different countries than those mentioned above can still apply for other visas, such as the Tier 4 (General) Student Visa.

We suggest you contact your local UK Embassy or Consulate to check what type of visa programme you should apply for to enter the UK. 

For more information about being an Au Pair in the UK, take a look at the British Au Pair Agency Association.

Au Pairs from Hong Kong

Au Pairs from Hong Kong can now travel to the UK

Would you like your children to be taught Mandrin by your au pair?

Well now they can! Hong Kong is the latest country to have been added to the list of countries eligible for the youth mobility scheme. This scheme allows a certain number of young people aged 18 to 30 to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years. For more information about eligibility for this youth mobility scheme Tier 5 visit UK government website. 

The countries that already participate in the youth mobility scheme are Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Monaco, Taiwan and S Korea.

The scheme is for young people from participating countries and territories who want to come and experience life in the UK. 
For more information about finding your perfect au pair see Kangaroo Au Pair

Au Pair Responsibilities UK

 What can I expect from my au pair? 

 Depending on the country you are based in you can expect different things from your au pair. In the UK a standard au pair will usually work for 25-30 hours per week. An au pair may have some childcare/babysitting experience but does not have formal childcare qualifications. Standard au pairs cannot take sole charge of children under the age of 2.

• Au pairs are aged between 17-27 and their chief purpose for being in the country is to learn the language and assimilate the culture.
• An au pair lives with you and should be treated as part of the family. Au pairs earn board and lodging and a small amount of money each week in return for childcare and light housework.
• Many people tend to lump nannies and au pairs into the same category but they are totally different. Au pairs are NOT nanny-substitutes, and usually have no formal childcare training. R.E.C (Recruitment and Employment Confederation) stipulates that au pairs should never have sole charge of children under the age of two.
• Au pairs are often seen as the 'Cinderellas' of the childcare industry. Agencies are often faced with problems of au pairs being treated as cheap labour by people who should be employing qualified nannies. Frequently they are left alone with young children for long hours and given heavy housework duties far in excess of what they should be asked to do.
• An au pair should have their own bedroom and be allowed proper time to study English.
• Visit The British Au Pair Agencies Association for more information

Duties:
Assist with light housework, help in the kitchen and care for school age children. They should also be available for babysitting one or two evenings per week.
Qualifications:
Au pairs have no formal training in caring for children and may have little or no experience.
- See more at: http://www.bestbear.co.uk/childcare-information/au-pairs.php#sthash.f6lpfsDk.dpuf

 An au pair is often called an older sister in their host family as the au pair lives as part of the family during the time that they stay with the family, rather than being an employee.

A standard au pair can be expected to:
-Work 25-30 hours per week but au pairs from the EU can work up to 35 hours per week.
-one to two evenings of babysitting per week (with a maximum of one of these to be at the weekend).
-To have one full day off at the weekend and one full weekend off per month.
-Have 5 free evenings per week.
-A standard au pair is most suitable for a family with school going children (a mother's help is more suitable for families with very young children).

What do I need to provide my au pair with?
An au pair should have their own room and have all meals provided. An au pair will pay for their own travel expenses and language classes unless otherwise agreed with their host family. Au pairs often study English classes and should be allowed to attend these.

What  housework can I expect my au pair to do?
An au pair's main responsibility is childcare but an au pair can be expected to carry out some household duties. We usually recommend that an au pair does approximately 1 hour of housework per day. Duties include housework related to the children such as keeping the children's toys and bedrooms tidy, giving them snacks. An au pair can also be expected to keep the kitchen tidy, the children's laundry and some hoovering. An au pair is not usually expected to cook the family dinner but in some cases an au pair will enjoy cooking dinner for the family on occassion. We usually recommend that an au pair does approximately 1 hour of housework per day.

Insurance
An au pair from the EU does not require additional health insurance as they are covered under the National Health System. 

What holidays does my au pair get?
The BAPAA recommends 4 weeks holidays per year as well as all bank/public holidays. British Au Pair Agencies Association

Pocket money
Pocket money of between £75-£85 per week (depending on hours) should be paid on an agreed day each week.

For more information please contact us at info@kangarooaupair.com or call us on  0044 203 1511660

Duties:
Assist with light housework, help in the kitchen and care for school age children. They should also be available for babysitting one or two evenings per week.
Qualifications:
Au pairs have no formal training in caring for children and may have little or no experience.
- See more at: http://www.bestbear.co.uk/childcare-information/au-pairs.php#sthash.f6lpfsDk.dpuf

• Au pairs are aged between 17-27 and their chief purpose for being in the country is to learn the language and assimilate the culture.
• An au pair lives with you and should be treated as part of the family. Au pairs earn board and lodging and a small amount of money each week in return for childcare and light housework.
• Many people tend to lump nannies and au pairs into the same category but they are totally different. Au pairs are NOT nanny-substitutes, and usually have no formal childcare training. R.E.C (Recruitment and Employment Confederation) stipulates that au pairs should never have sole charge of children under the age of two.
• Au pairs are often seen as the 'Cinderellas' of the childcare industry. Agencies are often faced with problems of au pairs being treated as cheap labour by people who should be employing qualified nannies. Frequently they are left alone with young children for long hours and given heavy housework duties far in excess of what they should be asked to do.
• An au pair should have their own bedroom and be allowed proper time to study English.
• Visit The British Au Pair Agencies Association for more information

Duties:
Assist with light housework, help in the kitchen and care for school age children. They should also be available for babysitting one or two evenings per week.
Qualifications:
Au pairs have no formal training in caring for children and may have little or no experience.
- See more at: http://www.bestbear.co.uk/childcare-information/au-pairs.php#sthash.f6lpfsDk.dpuf