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Do you want to be an au pair in England?
Read on for more information and many useful tips for your au pair stay in England.
Find out more about an au pair stay in England!
Many young people dream of an au pair stay in England . They find it appealing to be able to learn the most important language in the world— English. Many people want to learn how to speak British English in order to improve their chances in the job market.
If you are from a country in Europe and are afraid of getting homesick during your au pair stay, England is much closer than the US. In a couple of hours, you can just fly home to visit friends and family or they can come and visit you in England.
If you want to be an au pair in England, you should at least have an intermediate level of English. Also, most host families in England ask for prior experience with children .
Most au pair agencies only accept au pair candidates that are at least 18 years old , as many host families in England don’t want to take responsibility for a minor in their house. If you want to be an au pair in England you can’t be married or have children.
If you are considering England for your au pair stay, keep in mind that there is no obligation to hire an agency like there is for an au pair stay in the US. This means that you can look for a host family on your own by using one of the many internet forums that bring au pairs and host families together. This is not only cheaper, but usually also easier and faster.
Your working hours depend on your country of origin. If you are a citizen of the European Union, you work between 25 and 35 hours per week . Additionally, you have to babysit 2 nights a week. If you are from a country that requires an au pair visa for England, you can only work a maximum of 25 hours per week. In England, you are entitled to at least 2 days off per week . At least once a month you should have the whole weekend off (Saturday and Sunday). You should definitely talk to your host family in England before your au pair stay about your working schedule .
Ask them for detailed information about your working hours.
You are entitled to at least 2 weeks of vacation if your au pair stay lasts 12 months. If you stay for only 6 months, you get 1 week of paid vacation . If your au pair stay is less than 6 months, you don’t get any vacation days.
As there are no official regulations for au pair vacations in England , you can negotiate your vacation days with the host family. If you are thinking about traveling around England during your au pair stay, ask your host family for more vacation days.
The average au pair salary in England is between 70-85 GBP per week. However, most host families ask for 30-35 hours per week which also means that you will earn more money.
Again, there are no laws about the au pair salary in England, and the exact sum will vary, also depending on the region in England. This also means that you can negotiate your salary with the host family prior to your au pair stay.
It is more complicated to organize an au pair stay in England if you are not from an EU or EFTA country. Only young people from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Monaco, Taiwan or citizens of the British Commenwealth can work in England through the Youth Mobility Scheme. The Youth Mobility Scheme is a special type of working holiday visa for the UK that allows young people from age 18 to 30 from the above mentioned countries to live and work in England, Scotland, Northern Irleand or Wales for a limited period of time.
For citizens of the EU or the EFTA community, the entry requirements are not as strict. In order to enter the country you only need an ID or passport that is valid for at least 3 months more than the duration of your au pair stay in England.
The age requirements are also a bit extended, from 17 to 30 years. If you are planning on staying in England for more than 3 months, you have to inform the UK Border Agency of the Home Office about your stay and see if you need to register.
You are allowed to stay in England between 3 months and 2 years. You have better chances of finding a host family if you stay between 10 and 12 months. Most host families in England take the school year as a base and therefore are typically looking for an au pair between September and July of the next year.
You are allowed to stay in England between 3 months and 2 years. You have better chances of finding a host family if you stay between 10 and 12 months. Most host families in England take the school year as a base and therefore are typically looking for an au pair between September and July of the next year.
Your working hours depend on your country of origin. If you are a citizen of the European Union, you work between 25 and 35 hours per week . Additionally, you have to babysit 2 nights a week. If you are from a country that requires an au pair visa for England, you can only work a maximum of 25 hours per week. In England, you are entitled to at least 2 days off per week . At least once a month you should have the whole weekend off (Saturday and Sunday). You should definitely talk to your host family in England before your au pair stay about your working schedule .
Ask them for detailed information about your working hours.
You are entitled to at least 2 weeks of vacation if your au pair stay lasts 12 months. If you stay for only 6 months, you get 1 week of paid vacation . If your au pair stay is less than 6 months, you don’t get any vacation days.
As there are no official regulations for au pair vacations in England , you can negotiate your vacation days with the host family. If you are thinking about traveling around England during your au pair stay, ask your host family for more vacation days.
There are many language schools in England , government-funded schools as well as private institutes, that offer language courses for different levels and at different times, to fit your au pair schedule. Keep in mind though that language courses at a private institute are fairly expensive in England. A cheaper option are the government-funded schools, such as the colleges for further education or the local adult education schools.
You usually have to pay for the trip to England and back. Also, if you hire an au pair agency to help you find a host family, you have to pay them a commission as well that is usually between 150 and 300 euros . Since it is not a requirement to hire an au pair agency , you can save a lot of money by looking for a host family online.
If you want to be an au pair in England you should familiarize yourself with English culture and customs. Start by listening to English radio stations or reading books in English.
England is famous for its strict education. While it is true that many schools in England still follow this strict traditional framework, family life in England is usually much more laid-back, but also varies considerably from family to family.
If you want to meet other people your age, take language classes or meet the friends and relatives of your host family. You can also ask the au pair agencies in your town to pass you the contact information of other au pairs in your area.
If you want to travel around England, it is better to take the intercity National Express buses, as they are a lot cheaper than the trains.
The British are known for being cold and distant. However, once in England, you will notice very quickly that underneath the hard surface is a friendly core. Don’t worry if your English isn’t perfect! The British are used to people from many different countries and won’t have trouble understanding you.
Population in England: 53,012,456 (2011)
Surface Area of England : 130.395 km2
Capital of England : London
official language : English
Currency : British Pound (GBP)
EU membership : EU member since 1973
Climate: moderate climate
Emergency number: 999 – police, fire department, ambulance
