General Information for Au Pairs & Mother's Helps

We offer a free service for all Au Pairs & Mother's Help at no charge!

The Au Pair scheme is a cultural exchange programme. It allows you to visit the Republic of Ireland United Kingdom, improve your English and learn about our culture, traditions and customs.

A host family are a family who:

  • Are looking for help with their day to day activities at home through Au Pair Agencies in Ireland, including childcare and light housework. This may include ironing, taking children to school and helping them with homework, basic cooking for the children and playing with the children.
  • Will welcome you into their home as part of their family
  • Will in return provide you with your own room, food and pocket money, share their home, amenities and everyday life, and ensure that you are well looked after.
  • Will offer you help with finding an English language class so you can improve your English. Most families will offer a contribution to these classes.

Au Pair Requirements

  • You are between the ages of 17 to 27 years
  • You are single, not married and do not have any children or dependents
  • You have some experience of looking after children and doing housework
  • You can communicate in English - basic English is acceptable
  • You have a good state of physical and mental health that allows you to work with children
  • You have passed the high school final exams
  • You are willing to integrate into the host family life and adapt to our customs
  • You are interested in getting to know the UK and its culture
  • Can stay in the UK for 6 months up to 2 years (2 to 3 months for a summer Au Pair)

Au Pairs

Will assist the family for 20-25 hours per week and babysit for up to 2 evenings per week. They have at least 2 free days per week (usually weekends) and must receive a minimum of £100 per week pocket money. This is good for Au Pairs who want a lot of free time for studying and sightseeing.

An Au Pair plus will assist the family for between 26 to 35 hours per week (from EU countries only) - carry out the same duties and have the same free time as our Au Pairs, but work for up to 35 hours per week. They should receive a minimum of £100 per week pocket money.

As an Au Pair coming to the UK you will be responsible for paying for your transport to come over to the UK. The host family will meet you at your destination whether it is at an airport, bus station, train station or port. Your new host family will help you look for suitable colleges/schools to help you enrol on courses to study English. Some colleges can charge you a fee, which could be around £200 a term. All college fees are your responsibility in paying for and not the responsibility of the host family, however, the host family may lend you the money which you can pay back on a weekly basis from your pocket money. Some host families will help pay towards the costs of college (normally for Au Pairs who stay 12 months +). If you are an Au Pair coming form an EU country and there are Adult Education Centres near to your host families' home then you may be entitled to free classes/lessons and only have to pay for the exam fees.

To register with Sunflower Au Pair Agency and find your Au Pair placement please use the link at the bottom of this page to complete the registration form. Whether you are in your own country or already in the UK you will need to email us on info@sunfloweraupairagency.com with:

  • a recent photo of yourself
  • 2 references
  • medical record information
  • Police check.
  • A letter to the family about yourself, family, where you live, hobbies, future careers and your experience of looking after children and why you want to be an Au Pair.

If you need any advice please contact us and we will be happy to help.

Mother's Help

Sunflower Au Pair Agency also supplies Mother’s helps.

You should have a wider range of childcare experience and be able to assist the parent for up to 40 hours per week. Usually a parent is at home with the children and she wants another pair of hands to help with the childcare and housework. Parents search through Au Pair Agencies in Ireland to secure that help. Although less experience is required to work under supervision as a Mother's help it is important to like children and to be flexible about duties. These positions will suit applicants who wish to earn more money and attend English classes in the evening.

Typical duties expected of a Mother's help are:

  1. Assisting the mother with the daily routine from the time the children get up until they are in bed.
  2. Sorting and putting laundry in the washing machine and tumble dryer, then putting away clean clothes.
  3. Going with the family to the country for weekends and holidays.
  4. Time off is at least one and half to two days and evenings per week.
  5. Some families may require a Mother's help to have sole charge of the children and do housework unsupervised.
  6. Mother’s helps are not expected to take sole charge of a newborn or very young baby.
  7. Mother's Help can be live-in or live out.
  8. Mother's Help can expect to be paid £150 - £350 per week, depending on the hours and conditions. Please call us to discuss further on 0208 245 4789.
  9. Assisting with shopping and cooking, cleaning children's rooms and play areas (light housework). Most households employ cleaners for the heavy work.
  10. Playing with and entertaining children creatively, taking them to nursery school or approved play schemes, babysitting once or twice a week. You may also be asked to drive.

Sunflower Au Pair and Mother's Help