Aupair in Spain

Spain

Au Pair in Spain

The Au Pair in Spain Program has worked with great success for more than 25 years and there are many young people of different nationalities who participate, giving them the opportunity to experience Spanish life and customs. The families are carefully selected and interviewed; the Host Families welcome the Au Pair into their home as a family member, not as an employee or boarder. The Au Pair is included in family outings, holiday celebrations, and other social events and vacations wherever possible.

Au Pair Qualifications:

All the Au Pair candidates must:

Be females of at least 18 years old,

Speak a little Spanish or conversational English,

Have earned a High School diploma or certificate,

Be of good character. All candidates are screened and references are checked,

Enjoy working with and have practical experience caring for children,

Be in good health, and be a non-smoker, or be willing not to smoke in a host family’s home.

The Au Pair will receive in exchange: her own room, full board and a weekly allowance.

Regular Au Pair: The families that live in the center of the city will pay 54 Euros per week, and 60 Euros for the families who live outside the city, for 30 work hours per week.

Au Pair Plus: The families that live in the center of the city will pay 84 Euros per week, and 90 Euros for the families who live outside the city, for 40 work hours per week.

The Au Pair will receive a one week vacation after a 6 months stay, and two weeks vacation for a 12 month stay.

Requisites to Apply:

When you are ready to apply, you will need to provide the following:

· Completed Au Pair application form

· 4 wallet size photos

· Copy of passport

· Medical certificate

· 2 letters of recommendation: one of which is for childcare

· Dear Host Family letter (introducing yourself, telling about your background, family, hobbies, childcare experiences, etc.)

Duties and Responsibilities:

· Providing the host family with child care for up to 30 hours per week, primarily helping with the relative tasks of the children, and also assisting/tutoring the family in her native language.

· The hours of work usually 5 hours per day, 6 days per week, with one free day; or 6 hours per day, 5 days per week, with two free days per week. Timetables may differ during school holidays.

· Keeping your room tidy and clean, doing your own laundry, and managing your own personal expenses (e.g. telephone bills, entertainment etc.) and budgeting accordingly.

· Driving or taking children to and from school, appointments, outing or errands.

· The Au Pair may be asked to accompany the family on vacation, especially during summer months.

The Host Families:

Most Host Families (80%) in this programme live in central Madrid or its outskirts. Most Host Families have been known for years by the local agency, and they know quite well the meaning of having an Au Pair student in their home. Families are carefully selected by the local agency and the best match for each applicant is sought.

The Au Pair will receive:

· Personal orientation from local affiliate, including information about Madrid and places/cities nearby worth a visit,

· Private Spanish language schools information,

· The phone numbers of other Au Pairs, so they can make friends quickly,

· Public transport information and how to get a Transport Seasonal ticket,

· Information about the Spanish Language classes, especially designed for our Au Pairs.

Spanish Language Classes:

As previously mentioned, the Au Pair is given a personal orientation of Spanish school. If you are living in Madrid or it’s outskirts, you will have several possibilities:

1. Different private schools,

2. Attend Spanish Language courses at the University of Acala de Henares. For those students interested in the University of Acala de Henares courses, a member of the local agency will accompany all students to the first day of class,

3. Attend the local agency’s special Spanish classes for Au Pairs held in our central offices. Classes are held from October to May of each year, and are specially designed for Au Pairs and their stay, with the outstanding facility that you may begin at any time of the year, and during any time of the month. After participating for three months, the Au Pair will receive a diploma, which will be issued according the level obtained.

Visas & Travel Costs:

EU Citizens do not need a visa to au pair in Spain. For non-EU citizens (such as Canadians and Americans), all necessary documentation to come to Spain is provided. You simply need to contact your local Spanish consulate (embassy) and request a visa. Non-EU citizens do need to enroll in a Spanish Language course (15 class minimum) before their arrival, to obtain their visa for a stay of more than three months in Spain. This can be done while awaiting visa processing.

Every student is responsible for their round trip costs, to and from their country, to come to Spain. Students are also responsible for their own travel costs from their accommodations in Spain, to the University or Spanish Language School.

Medical Insurance:

EU citizens have all health costs covered by the Social Health Security of Spain. The students must have obtained an E-111 form, before leaving their country, which will enable them to enter the Social Security System of Spain. Non- EU citizens (such as Canadians & US citizens) must be able to present documentation of medical insurance of another kind.

Life in Spain During the School Period:

The first thing that will surprise the Au Pair applicants, are the timetables and rhythm of life in Spain: it is like nowhere else in Europe. In Spain, life begins later, and ends later too. It is easy for the Au Pair applicant to participate in Spanish language classes and do other activities, as you will have lots of free time.

During the School Period, from September until June, children in general begin school between 8:30 and 9:30 am, and they finish at 5:00 or 5:30 pm. There may of course be some exceptions. Usually, the Au Pair will work an hour in the morning, to get the children ready for school. After that, they have free time until they return from school, between 5:00 and 6:00 pm, when the work with children begins: helping them with the language, playing with them, cooking simple dinners for them, bathing them, and babysitting if the family requests it (2 or 3 nights a week, never in a row). In some Host Families, the Au Pair is required to give a little help with light house work, but normally in Spain, the main work is with the children. Most of the families have a cleaning lady to do the hard housework.

During the Summertime:

Summertime is totally different from the rest of the year. Children are on holidays and everything is more relaxed, as the day begins even later. Most families in Madrid go on holidays for part or the whole summer, to another area of Spain (usually the coast or the mountains). Others live in the outskirts of Madrid, often with a garden and swimming pool. Timetables during school holidays are different, as the children have lots of spare time (almost 2 ½ months), however the Au Pair should not work more than 5-6 hours per day. If the family asks for more working hours, they must give the Au Pair more pocket money, and she must also be in agreement with the arrangement.

Summers in Spain are very relaxed and fun, but the Au Pair should get involved and enjoy the lifestyle. It can be different and surprising, but everyone comes alive more during the nighttime hours. During summertime, it is not possible to attend Spanish language classes, as families are on the move a great deal, and it is complicated to combine the children’s activity timetable with classes.

How Can I Apply?

Contact Scotia Personnel Ltd. for more information/application forms: