School holidays and au pairs, how South African families plan around them

South African public and most private schools run four terms with breaks between them, a long summer holiday over December and January, and a scattering of public holidays. For an au pair arrangement built around afternoons, every one of those breaks changes the job. The families who get it right agree the plan before the first holiday, not in the last week of term.

The shape of the year

The Department of Basic Education publishes the calendar each year, and independent schools set their own dates close to it. Roughly: a short break at the end of March or in April, a three-week break in June and July, a short break in September or October, and five to six weeks from early December to mid-January. Check your school’s exact dates; they shift by a week or two each year.

What changes in a holiday

For a family, the childcare gap moves from 13:00 to 18:00 to something like 07:30 to 17:30. For a student au pair, the university breaks don’t line up neatly with school breaks, and December is when most go home.

Three common arrangements

Full days at an agreed rate. The au pair works longer days during the holiday, paid at the normal hourly rate or a slightly lower full-day rate. Suits gap-year and non-student au pairs, and families with no other cover.

Reduced hours or leave. The au pair takes the holiday off, unpaid or as annual leave, and the family uses holiday clubs, grandparents or their own leave. Suits students and families with flexible work.

A mix. Full days in the short breaks, leave in December. This is the most common pattern with student au pairs.

Write it down

Put the holiday plan in the agreement: which arrangement, the rate, and how far in advance each side confirms. The contract guide has a section on it. An au pair working more than 24 hours a month is entitled to leave under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, pro rata for part-time hours, so agree how that is taken.

December

Be honest early. If the au pair is going home for five weeks, the family needs to know in October. If the family needs cover through December, say so at the interview. Neither is a problem; the surprise is.

Public holidays

If a public holiday falls on a day the au pair normally works, they are entitled to be paid for it under the BCEA, or paid extra if they work it. Build it into the monthly amount.

A practical tip

Sit down at the start of each term with the school calendar and mark the au pair’s days on it. Ten minutes a term prevents most holiday arguments.