Please return all complete all forms and return them to us as one complete profile pack (see checklist). You can scan and e-mail to info@peekaboochildcare.com or post the pack to the UK au pair agency.
To start your application, please submit your complete profile by e-mail together with a profile deposit of £150 inc VAT (you can pay in our online shop)
Tips for the best profile
NOTE: you can register at any time. However, ideally you should register at least 3 months before your intended travel date to maximise your chance of matching you to a host family. If you can be flexible about dates, location and children’s ages, we can find you a family – guaranteed!
Tips for au pair work registration -
We need you to tell us all about yourself to help us find a family where you will feel at home. The family also reads this information and they want to get a picture of the ‘real you’ in daily life.
Please be as FLEXIBLE as you can with your requirements, dates etc. There are many aupairs looking and the more flexible you are the more attractive your au pair profile will look to host families.
Write as much as possible, including information about:
• You: Yourself, your family, your friends, your pets, your hobbies and interests, likes/dislikes
• Your home: Where and with whom you live, your town, your region
• Your education: What sort of work/study you do/have done
• Childcare experience: Previous jobs / work experience with children (please be specific, ages of children, what did you do, how often, how long for etc.)
• Future plans: Career, goals, further studies
• Hobbies, sports, talents and interests: Anything you do in your spare time that gives you a special skill, passion or talent. An au pair can be as much a coach as a carer, especially with older children, so your skills and talent are important.
- Make sure the letter is ‘generous’, if it looks rushed or short, the family will think you are rushed or don’t care (enough) about this project. If a job’s worth doing, it is worth doing well!
- Use proper language. It is better to be too formal than too ‘cool’.
- Be friendly, honest and open, for your own benefit as you need to be able to ‘be yourself’ and feel at home when you join your host family. Families choose someone to come and look after their children AND live with them in their home. You need to show them they can trust you.
- Show off – a little! Make sure you clearly state all your positive skills and the best features of your character. Your skills that are important to the family would include housekeeping, cooking, driving but also tennis, swimming, drawing, musical skills, sports, sewing or storytelling. The key strength of your personality may be that you are calm and remain patient at all times, on the other hand, you may be dynamic and full of energy and never too tired to play one more game or take on one more task.Ask your friends and family, they may think of more things than you do and also ask them to proof read your letter.
Pictures
- Choose photos where you look smiley, friendly and relaxed. No party pics please and no crazy pics. Use photos of you interacting with children, ideally children of different age groups. It is very re-assuring for a family to see that you have been around children before. Maybe some pics of you doing your favorite hobby or cuddling your pet. Use recent photos
- If you have a video camera, why not ask a friend to video a short introduction of yourself and send us the video clip by e-mail or send us a link to an online video.
References
- Think creative – childcare references can be from babysitting but also from homework help, helping at your school with younger children or helping at your local sports club. We do not accept references from your family members and/or your best friend. Of course these people think you are great, and we are sure you are too but we need ‘impartial’ referees! References can be from teachers, mentors, tutors, sports club or youth club leaders, religious leaders (church), employers (including baby-sitting families).
Please ensure there are contact details on the reference; name, address and telephone number, as we verify each reference and the family may also wish to make contact with them.
You can use the form we supply for your referee to complete or use it to check that references you already have are suitable to use.
We are really looking forward to talking to you and helping you to find a matching host family!
It is important that you check your e-mail daily and respond quickly, to ensure you will not miss out on any opportunities.
By completing your profile, you agree to our terms (see reference pack). We will do everything we can to assist you to find a suitable family and help you prepare and settle in once you have arrived.
Ready to register?
Go to au pair registration