The after-school au pair: how the typical South African arrangement works

The gap the au pair fills

South African schools finish early, extramurals run until late afternoon, and parents work until at least 17:00, usually with a commute after that. The after-school au pair covers that gap. It is the most common au pair arrangement in the country, and it is why a driver’s licence tops every list of requirements.

A normal afternoon

• 12:45 Au pair arrives, checks the day’s plan, packs snacks and sports kit.
• 13:00 to 13:45 School collection, sometimes from two or three schools.
• 14:00 Lunch or a snack at home; a short break for everyone.
• 14:30 to 16:00 Homework and reading, one child at a time if ages differ.
• 16:00 to 17:30 Sport, music, a play date, or the pool at home.
• 17:30 Bath time started, supper prepared or reheated, bags packed for tomorrow.
• 18:00 Handover to a parent: what happened, what’s due, anything to know.

Every family’s version differs, but the shape is the same: transport, food, homework, activity, handover.

Setting the routine

Write the weekly grid before the au pair starts and put it on the fridge. Include which school each child is at, which activities on which days and where, who may collect each child, and what time you’ll be home. Update it every term. An au pair with a clear grid makes good decisions when the day goes sideways; one without it phones you at work.

Homework

Be clear about what you want: supervision, or tutoring. Supervision means the child does the work and the au pair keeps them on task. Tutoring means teaching, and it needs someone with the right subjects and language. Tell the au pair how the school wants homework signed off and how much help is too much.

Driving

The school run is the riskiest part of the day. Check the licence, drive with the au pair once, and set rules: no phone while driving, everyone in a seatbelt or car seat, no extra passengers without asking. Decide whose car, who insures it, and how fuel is paid. Give the au pair the school’s contact and yours, and tell the school who will be collecting.

Food

Most families expect the au pair to make a snack and a simple supper for the children, and to eat with them. Say what the children may and may not have, list allergies on the fridge, and keep the kitchen stocked. Cooking for the adults is not part of the role unless you agree it and pay for it.

Sport and activities

Afternoons are often spent at a sports field. An au pair who enjoys being outdoors and is happy to wait through a match is worth a great deal. Agree how long they wait, whether they watch, and what the younger children do meanwhile.

The handover

Five minutes at 18:00 is the most valuable part of the day. What happened, what’s due tomorrow, any incidents, any notes from school. Some families use a shared notes app; a notebook on the counter works just as well.

Holidays and long weekends

School holidays change everything. Decide early whether the au pair works more hours, fewer, or takes leave, and how pay works. Students often go home in December; working parents often need full days in July. Settle it in the agreement, not in the last week of term.

Pay and terms

After-school au pairs typically work 20 to 30 hours a week. See the pocket money guide for your city, and the contract guide for what to write down.