Enrich Your Family's Life with an Au Pair in Americae
Trusted by 150K+ Students, Au Pairs, and Host Families Worldwide – Au Pair in America
INTERESTED IN
HOSTING AN AU PAIR FOR SENIORS OR CHILDREN?🏠👵👶
🌟 TRUSTED BY 150K+ FAMILIES ACROSS IRELAND, UK, AND USA! 🌎
Why Host an Au Pair?
Hosting an au pair is one of the most flexible and affordable forms of childcare available. 🏠👨👩👧👦
For a period of time, you’re adding to your family and forming bonds of friendship that can last a lifetime. 💕
By introducing your own children to a new culture, you’re broadening their perspective of life. 🌍
Au pairs provide up to forty hours of helpful childminding. 👶🕒
They often grow into the role of a mature brother or sister for your children, and with that responsibility, they are also prepared to help busy parents with household upkeep. 🧹
In return, they get to make lifelong friends, experience a new culture, and improve their English.
👨👩👧👦 Flexible and affordable childcare
🧹 Assistance with housework
⏰ Care for your children for up to 40 hours a week
🌍 A way to introduce your family to another culture
TYPICAL DAY-TO-DAY AU PAIR DUTIES INCLUDE:
🚸 Dropping your children off at school
🏫 Picking them up from school or after-school activities
📚 Helping with homework
🧹 Assisting in keeping your children’s rooms clean
🍽️ Cooking light meals for your children
🧼 Keeping the kitchen tidy etc.
Why Choose Au Pair English?
At the Au Pair English, we have over twenty years of success in matching the right au pair to the right family. We understand that you don’t have time to search through hundreds of candidates. Every family has different needs and every au pair has different talents. Our expertise is in finding you the right au pair from the word go. 🌟
Child safety is our number one priority so all our au pairs are interviewed and vetted to ensure we only recruit the right individuals. Each au pair has a personal profile – which we provide you with a copy of – containing completed references, police certificates, medical certificates, and information on their educational background. Our Dublin-based au pairs receive full orientation and au pairs placed outside. 🛡️📝👩🎓
EXCEPTIONAL AU PAIRS FOR YOUR FAMILY
At AU PAIR ENGLISH, our commitment is to match your family with EXCEPTIONAL AU PAIRS tailored to your specific needs. Each AU PAIR undergoes a meticulous vetting and interview process to ensure your PEACE OF MIND. Here’s what our AU PAIRS bring to the table:
✅ Police Clearance Certificate from their home country.
✅ Medical Certificate affirming good health.
✅ Multiple references from past employers, teachers, or educational institutions.
✅ Assistance in maintaining your children’s living spaces.
✅ Educational diplomas and qualifications.
✅ Possession of a valid driving license (if driving is necessary).
With our rigorously selected and screened AU PAIRS, REST ASSURED, your children are in capable and caring hands. 🤝👩👧👦
EXCEPTIONAL AU PAIRS FOR YOUR FAMILY
At AU PAIR ENGLISH, our commitment is to match your family with EXCEPTIONAL AU PAIRS tailored to your specific needs. Each AU PAIR undergoes a meticulous vetting and interview process to ensure your PEACE OF MIND. Here’s what our AU PAIRS bring to the table:
✅ Police Clearance Certificate from their home country.
✅ Medical Certificate affirming good health.
✅ Multiple references from past employers, teachers, or educational institutions.
✅ Assistance in maintaining your children’s living spaces.
✅ Educational diplomas and qualifications.
✅ Possession of a valid driving license (if driving is necessary).
With our rigorously selected and screened AU PAIRS, REST ASSURED, your children are in capable and caring hands. 🤝👩👧👦
While some of our competitors charge up to $1000 per year, our fee is only $600 (and only $150 for short-term summer au pairs).
For this fee, we provide support and guidance throughout the entire au pair hiring process and during the time the au pair is with you. This includes a 24/7 emergency helpline. Our childcare support options are always flexible to accommodate the individual needs of your family. 📞🕒👨👩👧👦
For a $600 Annual Registration Fee, We Provide You With: 💼
• 🤝 A personal au pair matching service so you get the right au pair for your family.
• ♻️ As many au pair replacements as you might require during your 12-month placement membership.
• 🕰️ 24/7 year-round host family and au pair support.
• 🎉 All au pairs have access to a weekly social program and a contact list of other au pairs in their area to help them settle into their new lives.
Au pair English
🌟 **Credentials:**
– 🇮🇪 The leading and most reputable au pair agency in Ireland.
– 🇺🇸 Proudly serving families in the USA, UK, and Ireland.
– 🤝 Proud founding member of the Irish National Au Pair Association (INAPA).
– 🌍 Distinguished member of the International Au Pair Association (SIP).
– 📚 Serving as Ireland’s largest educational and cultural au pair resource.
– 👥 Extensive network offering the most comprehensive social support services for au pairs.
– 👵👴 Pioneers in providing Au Pairs for the elderly.
**Selection and Support Process:**
– 👨👩👧👦 Meticulously selecting au pairs with your family and children’s interests as our top priority.
– 🤝 Collaborating with sister agencies across Europe, leveraging established partnerships for over two decades to ensure the perfect match.
**Financial Obligations:**
– 💰 Your obligations include deducting legal taxes from the gross salary and remitting them to the tax authorities.
– 🏠 Specific deductions allowed for food and accommodation:
– 🍽️ Full board and lodging: $54.13 per week or $7.73 per day.
– 🍳 Board only: $32.14 per week or $4.60 per day.
– 🏠 Lodging only: $21.85 per week or $3.14 per day.
– 📝 Providing au pairs with a breakdown of gross salary and deductions at the end of each pay period, ensuring transparency and compliance.
**Experience and Reputation:**
– 📅 For over twenty years, AU PAIR ENGLISH has successfully placed au pairs in Ireland, USA, and the UK.
– 🏆 Earning a reputation as an industry leader for superior quality and value.
– 🕒 Fulfilling our commitment to 24/7 support year-round for both host families and au pairs.
How Our Process Works 🔄
Finding your au pair involves three simple steps:
Provide Your Family Information and Requirements:
📋 Firstly, you provide us with your family information and requirements.
Match with Potential Au Pairs:
🤝 We then match you with potential au pairs who complement your needs.
📧 All profiles are sent by email for your convenience.
Shortlist, Arrange Interviews, and Confirm:
✅ Secondly, you shortlist the au pairs based on their profiles and inform us of your selections.
📩 We then email your shortlisted au pairs your family profile.
🗣️ If there is mutual interest, you can arrange interviews with the selected candidates.
🤝 Once you’ve chosen your preferred au pair, the third step is to confirm your decision with us.
📝 Send your terms of employment to the selected au pair, forming the basis of your contract with her.
✈️ After the au pair agrees to the contract terms, travel arrangements, etc., you’ll need to pay the balance of your registration fee.
Step One: Providing Your Family Information 📝
Receive and Complete Application Form:
A. 📄 You will have received an application form and contract along with this Family Information.
B. ✍️ Complete the application form, providing detailed information about your needs to ensure the best possible au pair match. Remember, potential au pairs will review this form before accepting an interview with your family, so comprehensive information, photos, and a ‘Dear Au Pair’ letter will enhance the candidate’s understanding of your placement.
Return Your Application Form: 📧
Return your completed application form by email. Don’t forget to include photos of yourself (the parents), your children, the house, and the au pair bedroom.
Send Activation Fee and Signed Contract: 💵
Send your activation fee ($50 payable by bank transfer or cash only) along with your signed contract. Please note that we do not accept cheques.
Confirmation and Candidate Selection: 🤝
Once we have received your application form, activation fee, and signed contract, we will contact you to discuss your application.
We will then begin a search for suitable candidates. For each au pair we match to you, we will email you a profile containing background information.
Our placement manager will guide you through Step Two. 📞
Step Two: Choosing Your Au Pair 🤔
**Selection of Potential Au Pairs** 🤔
1. **Creating a Shortlist of Au Pairs:**
– Based on the au pair profiles we’ve sent you via email, you can create a shortlist of up to three potential au pairs to speak with.
– Please note that other families may also be reviewing the same au pair profiles. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that the au pair you ultimately choose will remain available until you confirm your decision with us (in Step Three).
2. **Contact Us to Confirm Interest:** 📞
– Once you’ve created your shortlist, please contact us to confirm which au pairs you’re interested in.
– Kindly refrain from contacting the au pairs directly before contacting us. Each au pair needs to receive information about your application from us before being contacted.
3. **Coordinating Interviews:** 📅
– After we’ve confirmed that the preselected au pair is mutually interested in your family’s profile, you can email her to arrange a phone or Skype interview.
– The interview is an opportunity for you and your potential au pair to learn more about each other. You can share information about your children, values, and community, while your au pair can discuss her childcare experience and expectations as an au pair with your family.
4. **Support Throughout the Process:** 🤝
– We’re here to assist you throughout these steps of the process. We’ll discuss potential interview questions, provide examples of weekly schedules, and outline general house rules—all of which have proven very useful for other families over the years.
Step Three: Confirming Your Au Pair ✅
1. **Confirming Your Choice:**
– 📧 If, after speaking to a particular candidate, you would like to confirm her as your au pair, you must contact us by email.
– 💰 At this point, your registration fee is due. Remember, your registration fee covers a full year of ongoing support and, where requested and possible, any replacement au pairs.
2. **Sending Personal Invitation Letter:** 💌
– Before your au pair placement can be finally confirmed, you need to email a signed personal invitation letter to your au pair.
– 📝 The terms of this letter need to be agreed upon by your au pair.
– Include information on your family, your children, their ages, required duties and hours, house rules, and the proposed pocket money.
What Do I Pay My Au Pair? 💰
This is a difficult question to answer and depends on a number of factors. You can make deductions, for example phone, internet, etc., but your au pair must agree to those deductions. Our families are paying their au pairs anywhere from $92 per week to $300 per week depending on hours and deductions. We can give you a guideline of how much you will be required to pay, but it’s best to contact our office or speak to a legal advisor.
Different Types of Au Pairs 🌟
During the academic year, au pairs are available for family placements of between six and twelve months. During the summer months, families can alternatively host au pairs for the shorter period of two to three months. Please note March, April, May, and December can be difficult to find replacements.
Male Au Pairs 👨👦
We also provide Male Au Pairs who make for excellent, nurturing, and responsible carers. Having a male au pair is like having an older brother for your children.
Au Pairs For Seniors 👵
Au Pairs for seniors provide assistance, companionship, informal care, and help for an elderly person. It is a non-medical, in-home care option for seniors who need assistance with daily living. Au pairs can provide an affordable alternative to very expensive live-in care.
Language Training 📚
One of the main reasons why au pairs come to Ireland is to improve their English.
For this reason, it is important to be patient with them as they begin to learn and use new language skills. To help optimize the process of their learning English, we have partnered with one of Ireland’s most respected English teaching schools, Language in Dublin (Dun Laoghaire). If you live in South Dublin, your au pair will be required to attend evening classes in this school.
We require this of all our au pairs who are located in South Dublin, as this is one of the main benefits of our service from an au pair perspective. Not only will your au pair quickly improve their English skills, but they will also mix and socialize with other au pairs in the area, helping to prevent feelings of homesickness and isolation.
**Classes in Dun Laoghaire** 🏫
Families must allow au pairs to attend these classes and need to agree to terminate the contract with the au pair should the au pair decide to no longer attend the school. While we do our best to place your au pair in class times that suit your family schedule, we cannot guarantee that we will have your preferred time slot available. For this reason, we ask families to be flexible with what time their au pair needs to attend classes and to understand that the priority is for au pairs to begin their classes as soon as possible after they arrive.
**Class Schedule:** 📅
– **Tuesday | Thursday**
– 7 – 9 P.M: General English
– 8 – 10 P.M: General English
– 7 – 10 P.M: Exam Classes
– **Monday | Wednesday**
– 7 – 9 P.M: General English
– 8 – 10 P.M: General English
– 7 – 10 P.M: Exam Classes
**Stay In Touch** 💌
After your au pair has confirmed her placement with you and has booked flights, it is important to keep in touch with her prior to her arrival. Keep in mind that you have opened your home to someone else’s daughter. There are many things you can do that will help her to feel welcome in your home. An occasional email to check in with her is reassuring. Sending her photos of your children or of pictures they have drawn is also a great show of welcome.
Welcoming Your Au Pair Into Your Home🏡
When your au pair arrives at your home, she will be tired, excited, and probably a little nervous and anxious. Keep in mind the fatigue that being in a new culture causes. It is important to give her a day or two to unpack, rest, and become familiar with her new host family’s home, family, and community before expecting her to assume full childcare responsibilities.
The first three days after an au pair arrives in your home are a time for her to get settled and start to learn about your family, your home, and your community. Here is a list of reminders to make those first few days smooth and productive:
– Does the au pair have what she needs in her room?
– Does she have enough storage space for her clothes and personal items?
– Does she have enough light to read and work by?
– Does she need an alarm clock so that she will be on time for work?
– Does she have enough privacy?
**Orientating Your New Au Pair** 🌍
There are many ways to help familiarize your au pair with her new ‘family’ and to make her feel comfortable in her new surroundings. Some of these are to:
– Tell your au pair about favorite toys, food, and activities.
– Describe your expectations of the care your children should receive.
– Write down the daily routine and your au pair’s schedule.
– Explain your preferred method of discipline and supervision of the children.
– Lay the groundwork for mutual respect and clear communication.
– Take time to get to know your au pair and ask her about her country.
– Discuss family customs, traditions, and unwritten rules.
– Give the au pair emergency contact information.
– Review important safety measures.
– Give the au pair a thorough tour of the house with instructions on how to use all appliances.
**Overlapping Au Pairs** 🔄
This happens when one au pair is leaving and a new one is arriving. This can be a very helpful period, but it should be no longer than a week as the new au pair needs to settle in on her own. The most obvious advantage is that the departing au pair can participate in training the new arrival. A friendly existing au pair who has the right attitude can be a great asset in helping a new au pair settle in, especially for busy host parents. However, it is important that you are very specific about what the departing au pair should include in her training rather than just leaving it to her judgment. If you do not take part in the transition and leave it all up to the outgoing au pair, it may cause confusion.
Successful Au Pair-Family Relationships🤝
The au pair program is a cultural exchange experience with a childcare component. While the needs of the children are of paramount importance, it is also important that au pairs receive the benefits of a cultural exchange experience. Ireland is famous for its welcome, and you represent a part of that friendliness and openness. In time, you will look upon your au pair as one of the family, and you will be a major part of her introduction to Irish traditions, customs, and cuisines. It is important that you help her understand her new experiences and support her in the adjustment to the new language and culture. For young people from around the world, experiencing life in Ireland is one of the biggest attractions of coming to be an au pair here.
Some tips:
– **Communication is very important.** Set a time to sit with your au pair once a week to go through everything that is or isn’t working.
– **Provide your au pair with a detailed timetable** of exactly what you want her to do and when.
– **Before she arrives, make sure she understands everything that is expected of her** – including your house rules and do’s and don’ts. Remember, your au pair will need help getting to know your routine and children. Your clarity, suggestions, and guidance are invaluable.
– It is a good idea to keep a copy of the timetable and house rules on the fridge or family noticeboard so you and your au pair have this readily available to refer to if the routine or rules are not being followed adequately. 📋
REMINDER 📢
While many of our au pairs come with prior childcare experience, only you understand the dynamics of your own family. The au pair program is most successful when host parents take the time to communicate with their au pairs about what their needs and expectations are. Families open to communication, teamwork, and support have the most rewarding relationships with their au pairs, and as a result, your children will benefit the most. 🌟
Practical Information And Guidelines 📋
FEES 💰
The fee for our placing the au pair with you and for you registering with the Au Pair Study Agency is 600 for twelve months. During this time you are kept on our books and are covered for any subsequent placements. Initial activation of your file will require a once-off 50 payment. This activation fee is non-refundable.
Summer Au Pairs (Two To Three Month Placements During Summer) ☀️
The fee for our placing the summer au pair with you and for you registering with the Au Pair Study Agency is 150, typically for two to three months. During this time you are kept on our books and are covered for any subsequent placements. We are committed to matching the right au pair to each family’s individual needs. However, if the au pair leaves or is asked to leave as confirmed by you in writing to us, we will endeavor to provide a replacement au pair at no additional cost to you, and as soon as feasibly possible. Please refer to our Terms and Conditions for more information. These are available on our website.
How To Make Payments 💳
Your activation fee and registration fee can be made by bank transfer as follows:
Bank
Account Name:
Account Number:
SORT Code 93 10 39
IBAN Number:
SWIFT Code:
Travel Costs 🌍
Au pairs are responsible for their own travel costs from their home country to Ireland, and you are responsible for meeting them at the point of arrival. If it is not possible for you to collect your au pair on arrival, you will be responsible for paying for the au pair’s onward journey to your home, whether that is a train ticket, bus ticket, or taxi fare. 🚗
**Au Pairs And Driving** 🚗
Where au pairs are required to drive in Ireland, we will do our best to ensure that they have a full, clean, and valid driving license, but we cannot be held responsible for their driving skills. You are responsible for providing refresher driving lessons with a local driving school or a qualified and experienced driver to ensure that they are competent to drive in Ireland. You are also responsible for providing the necessary insurance to cover the au pair’s use of the vehicle together with any maintenance or service fees. Remember, au pairs are likely to be used to driving on the right-hand side of the road, so they will need a little time to get used to Irish roads.
**What Au Pairs Should Pay For** 💳
Au pairs are responsible for paying their own tuition fees, day-to-day bus/train tickets, flights, mobile phone cards, medical insurance/expenses, and airfare.
**Problem Solving** 🤔
Arriving in a new country can be daunting for anybody. You should always allow for a “settling in” period of about a month. A family that encourages open discussions always produces the best au pair experience. Flexibility is important. Treat your au pair as you would want someone to treat your child if they were living in a host family abroad. Asking how her day was, being thoughtful around holidays or birthdays, and including her in family meals will go a long way to making her feel welcome. Simply treat her as one of the family.
There will be days when your au pair feels homesick or needs advice in navigating a new language and culture. As a host family, you are the first line of support for your au pair. Taking the time to listen to her and offer an encouraging word is part of being a great host family.
On those rare occasions when you find an au pair is incompatible with your family needs, we will always strive to find a suitable replacement for you as soon as possible. This service is covered by your registration fee. However, please note that the successful outcome of this process is not always guaranteed. Finding a replacement au pair is not as simple as a phone call or quick interview, as we need time to assess various factors to make sure that we find the most suitable replacement. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our placement manager.
**Exceptions** 🚫
No replacements will be provided (and the Au Pair Study Agency’s opinion of the circumstances is final) under the following circumstances:
– If the registration fee has not been paid.
– If the au pair justifiably complains of abuse, mistreatment, or misconduct by you or any member, guest, friend, or acquaintance of your family.
– If you restrict access to, or prevent your au pair from using any amenities to which he/she is contractually entitled, or you withhold all or part of his/her pocket money.
– If an au pair leaves because they have been asked (and have not agreed) to work longer hours or perform substantially different duties to those agreed.
– If you do not abide by our Terms and Conditions.
**Au Pair English**
The Au Pair English cannot make guarantees beyond our control, for example on the rare occasions that the au pair does not stay the required length of engagement. Au pairs naturally have the right to leave or terminate any arrangement with you. Replacement au pairs may take some time, depending on the time of year, but you can rest assured that we will always strive to find you a suitable replacement as soon as possible.
**Frequently Asked Questions**
**Why choose the Au Pair English over online au pair platforms?** 🤔
At first glance, online agencies can seem convenient and low in cost; however, in reality, the quality, security, and long-term result of using online agencies can be dangerous for everyone involved. Online agencies are non-regulated forums whereby families can search for ‘au pairs’ to mind their children. Au pairs who apply are not screened, interviewed, oriented, or vetted in any way. In addition to non-monitored applicants posting their profiles online, you will also find that you have hundreds of profiles to search through. You may end up speaking to a few candidates and confirming a nice au pair; however, the chances that she will cancel are proven to be very high. In a survey we completed in 2014, 87% of families who had recruited online had experiences of au pairs not turning up at the airport and 96% had experienced a last-minute cancellation. Aside from the obvious inconvenience and security of online placements, there is no support before, during, or after your placement. Our advice is always to talk to a respected, authentic agency that has an office in the real world – preferably an agency that has been established for many years so that you know you’re getting a service that has been proven to work and is available to you 24/7.
**Are au pairs always live-in?** 🏠
Au pairs are usually live-in; however, we also provide live-out childcare.
**Do we need to pay for our au pair’s language classes or flights?** 🎓
No, you are not required to pay for the au pair’s language classes or return flight to Ireland. This is her own personal expense.
**Do we need to pay for the au pair’s car insurance?** 🚘
If you require your au pair to drive, you will need to pay for her to be insured on your car or a spare car. It is also advised that you pay for some driving lessons on her arrival as she will most likely not be used to driving on the left-hand side of the road.
**Does the au pair need her own bathroom?** 🛁
No, as long as the family bathroom is available for the au pair to use on a daily basis for a sufficient amount of time she does not require her own bathroom.
**Are your au pairs police vetted and medically checked?** 🩺
Yes, all of our au pairs are required to provide a police and medical certificate from their home country on application.
**My schedule changes week to week, is that going to be a problem?** 📅
We have many host families registered with us who work irregular hours or shift work. It is important that, at the interview stage of the au pair recruitment process, you explain as clearly as possible what the au pair can expect from the placement and how many hours she will be working.
**What is the minimum and maximum placement?** ⏳
The minimum placement during the academic year is six months and the maximum is twelve. During the summer months, families can host au pairs for two to three months.
“Before hosting an au pair I was relying on babysitters and family to mind our daughter. Having an au pair proved significantly more cost-effective than using babysitters and child-minders”.
“Our au pair is here for school holidays, last-minute babysitting needs and the kids get to stay at home, you just can’t beat the flexibility”.
“98% of our families have recommended or would recommend the Au Pair Study Agency to their family and friends”.
“There are so many agencies out there, we didn’t really know where to start looking. But the Au Pair Study Agency seemed to have the best reputation. And we can add our vote of confidence to that! They did most of the work for us and their placement manager found us the perfect au pair. She’s moved back home now but still sends us birthday cards and Christmas cards and she’s coming back for a holiday soon. The kids really miss her, she really was one of the family. Can we adopt her?!”
“We never even considered hosting a male au pair until the agency suggested that it might be helpful with three young boys, Miguel has been a saint with the kids, he plays football and rugby with them and they adore him”.
“600 per year is nothing considering what we have got out of this. We’ve tried this before with other agencies but never had the same personal touch and support. We have a new addition to the family and soon we’ll be back in touch with Au Pair Study Agency to find us a new au pair. Thanks guys!”
“97% of our host families said the Au Pair Study Agency worked professionally and efficiently compared to competitors”.
“Going online to find an au pair was so difficult, there were so many files and it was hard to fully vet and screen them. We went with the Au Pair Study Agency so that we wouldn’t have to worry about countless files to review. They were great at sending us through the right matches of girls who really suited us”.
“It’s been great company having another adult around the house and I’m now able to meet my work commitments with a lot more flexibility”.
“We got a big surprise when we were told we were expecting twins! Hosting an au pair is a lifesaver”.
“We were let down by an au pair we were talking to online, she was due to arrive Monday evening and never turned up, we called the Au Pair Study Agency late on Monday night and they had Sandra with us by the end of the week! They really do mean 24/7 support!”
Call us or reach out to us via WhatsApp
Brownsville:
Send a message
info@AupairEnglish.com
Our offices
...