Au-pairs for Scotland

About Au-pairing  

An au-pair is a girl (or boy) usually aged between 18 and 27 who travels to another country, primarily to improve their language skills, to live for a while as a member of a family and to experience a different culture. They have their own room, and meals are generally taken with the family. ‘Pocket-money' is paid weekly at a suggested rate of £70.

 An au pair can be expected to do a mixture of childcare and light housework. They may be asked to assist children with dressing, having breakfast, taking and collecting them from school, preparing meals and keeping their rooms tidy. There also may be some dusting, hoovering, ironing, washing, bed making etc.

 An Au-Pair generally works 30 hours and possibly 2 evenings babysitting per week. All au pairs should have two full days off per week and are not expected to baby-sit on these evenings unless there is some arrangement between the au-pair and family. The family may ask the au pair to do additional duties for which they should give extra pocket money in return. This should be agreed between family and au-pair. One week’s paid leave should be given for each six months worked after the first three months. They are entitled to have Public holidays as free days without loss of pay. The period of notice is 2 weeks on either side.

  An Au-Pair is not a nanny and should only be left in sole charge of babies and young children at the family's discretion. Au pairs do not sign a formal contract with the family or the agency, since the arrangement is an informal one – they are more like family members than employees. Au-pairs are expected to pay their own return fare to the country in which they are to be employed. Arrangements will be made for them to be collected from the airport/station by the host family.