The Au Pair Programme

Guidelines for Au Pairs and Host Families participating in the BAPAA Au Pair Programme.  Individual families or agencies may wish to improve on these benefits, but these should be offered as a minimum

Nature of the Programme:  the au pair programme is a cultural exchange programme and not a contract or work. Au pairs must be welcomed as a member of the family.

Age:  An au pair is aged 17 – 27 ( 18 – 30 from 2008, if coming on a visa )

Hours on duty:  Au pairs can be on duty from 25 – 35 hours per week if they are from an EU country.  This is limited to 25 hours per week if the au pair requires a visa.  These hours can be spread out over 5 days per week.

Pocket Money:  Pocket money must be a minimum of £60 per week for 25 hours, regardless of whether the minimum hours are worked.

Babysitting:  Two evening babysitting per week are allowed as part of the programme.  Additional pocket money should be paid for any additional evenings

Leisure time:  The au pairs schedule must provide sufficient time to attend language school and the au pair shall receive two free days each week and should be offered one full week-end per month.

Holiday entitlement:  The au pair is entitled to a minimum two weeks holiday per year; one week for every six months stay.  Pocket money will be paid during these two weeks.  If the au pair placement is for a shorter time,  holiday is calculated pro-rata.  The au pair should not be forced to take holiday to coincide with the family holiday

Light Housework:  A list of suggested light housework duties is in the appendix to these regulations.

Childcare:  an au pair is not allowed to have sole charge of children under the age of two

Room and board:  the au pair receives full room and board from the family throughout the stay.  The au pair must have her own room with a window and not be required to share with children and she should be given facilities to study.

Travelling Costs:  the au pair is required to pay their own travelling cost to and from the UK, unless the family chooses to fund this

Insurance:  au pairs visiting the UK do not need additional health insurance as they are entitled to use the National Health Service.  The au pair may also wish to take out additional travel insurance to cover loss of belongings, repatriation in case of accident, death etc.

Language School and Costs :  au pairs must be given enough time to attend language school. There are many free courses in the UK for EU members.  If an au pair chooses to go to a private school,  they must bear their own cost, unless the family offers to fund this.

Written Offer:  each agency shall ensure that the au pair receives a written offer from the family covering the duties and benefits

The host family:  each agency shall  ensure that the family is suitable to host an au pair and understands the nature of the au pair programme and that the au pair is there to help the family and is not in charge of the house

List of housework duties accepted as light housework

Washing dishes, including loading and unloading dishwasher
Preparing simple meals for children
Keeping kitchen tidy and clean, including sweeping and mopping floors
Loading and unloading laundry into washing machine
Ironing for children
Putting washed clothes away
Vacuuming
Dusting
Making and changing children’s beds
Cleaning children’s bathroom
Everything to do with keeping their own room/bathroom clean and tidy
Light shopping (not the household shopping)
Walking and feeding pets
Emptying bins

List of duties considered unsuitable for an au pair

Gardening
Window cleaning
Spring cleaning
Cleaning the oven, other than simple wiping out
Washing carpets
Washing the car
Weekly shopping
Pet training
Clearing up after untrained pets
Making parents bed*
Ironing for parents *
Cleaning parents’ en-suite bathroom*
Polishing silver and brassware*
Cooking the family meal, unless the au pair enjoys cooking ans has chosen to do this for the family

*these duties can be included where there is less childcare and the children are out of the house for most of the day

Au pairs should not be required to do housework such as ironing, when looking after children of primary school age or toddlers