Originally published: 14 June 2019 · Last updated: 17 September 2026
Looking for the Right Au Pair in Sandton?
Finding someone to care for your children is an incredibly personal decision. You need more than a capable person with an impressive CV- you need someone whose experience, personality, values and availability genuinely fit your family.
Au Pair Extraordinaire is an award-winning au pair agency serving Sandton and surrounding northern Johannesburg areas. Established in 2007, we help families find carefully selected au pairs for after-school, full-day and specialised childcare positions.
Our service covers Sandton, Bryanston, Morningside, Rivonia, Sandown, Hyde Park, Atholl, Benmore, Sunninghill, Fourways and surrounding areas.
Why Sandton Families Hire Au Pairs
Life in Sandton can move quickly. Between work, school collections, homework, appointments, sport and extra-mural activities, many parents need reliable support from someone who can step confidently into the family’s daily routine.
An au pair provides more than basic supervision. Depending on your requirements, an au pair can become your representative when you cannot be there- helping your children remain safe, organised, supported and engaged.
The right au pair can give parents breathing room while providing children with consistency, encouragement and individual attention.
What Can an Au Pair Help With?
Every family has different requirements, but common au pair duties include:
- Collecting children from school
- Transporting children to sport, therapies and extra-mural activities
- Supervising and assisting with homework
- Preparing children’s meals and snacks
- Arranging and supervising playdates
- Purchasing materials for school projects
- Communicating with teachers, coaches and therapists
- Running child-related and family errands
- Planning age-appropriate activities during school holidays
- Providing nurturing companionship and emotional support
- Assisting with occasional babysitting or weekend work by prior arrangement
The position should be structured around your family’s actual needs, the ages of your children and the level of responsibility involved.
Local Matching Matters in Sandton
Location is an important part of a successful placement. Sandton traffic, school collection times and afternoon activity schedules can turn a seemingly simple position into a demanding daily routine.
When matching candidates, we consider where they live, their transport arrangements, their availability and the routes they would need to travel. If driving forms part of the position, families should discuss school routes, expected kilometres, petrol reimbursement and vehicle requirements before employment begins.
A realistic schedule and competitive salary make it considerably easier to attract dependable, experienced candidates.
How Our Sandton Au Pair Placement Process Works
1. Tell Us What Your Family Needs
Complete our family application with your children’s ages, required working hours, duties, location and preferred candidate experience.
2. Speak to an Experienced Recruiter
One of our recruiters will discuss your requirements, help you structure the position and provide guidance on an appropriate salary.
3. Review Carefully Selected Candidates
Instead of overwhelming you with unsuitable applications, we introduce candidates whose experience, availability, location and personality align with your family.
4. Interview Your Preferred Candidates
You decide which candidates you would like to meet. This gives you the opportunity to discuss expectations, ask practical questions and assess the personal connection.
5. Make Your Selection
Once you and the candidate agree to proceed, we guide you through the final placement requirements, checks and employment documentation.
How We Screen Our Au Pair Candidates
We are extremely selective about the candidates we represent. Only about 5% of applicants are accepted following our screening process.
Every represented candidate undergoes:
- Careful application and CV screening
- A structured personal interview
- Detailed childcare and employment reference checks
- Our custom-built Child Care Competency Test
- Assessment of experience, reliability, maturity and suitability
- A criminal background check during the final placement phase
Families can also request optional additional checks, including premium social media screening, a TransUnion credit check, driver’s licence verification and ID verification.
Screening is only one part of our service. We also consider the qualities that cannot be captured by a checklist: temperament, communication style, energy, values and the ability to form a healthy relationship with your children.
What Should You Pay an Au Pair in Sandton?
Au pair salaries depend on the working hours, duties, experience required, number and ages of the children, qualifications and whether driving forms part of the position.
Current monthly salaries generally range from approximately R6,000 for lower-hour positions to R20,000 or more for demanding full-day or highly qualified roles. Petrol reimbursement is normally handled separately when an au pair uses their own vehicle for work-related driving.
Positions with very few weekly hours can sometimes be harder to fill, particularly during popular afternoon times. Offering a competitive salary helps attract experienced candidates who are likely to commit to the family.
Read our current au pair salary guide for a more detailed breakdown, or allow your recruiter to recommend a suitable range for your particular position.
What Does the Agency Charge?
Families hiring an au pair for a permanent position can choose between two placement options:
- Standard placement option: 11% of the candidate’s gross annual income plus VAT, including a three-month replacement guarantee.
- Premium placement option: 12% of the candidate’s gross annual income plus VAT, including a six-month replacement guarantee.
Your recruiter will explain both options and help you select the one that provides the right level of reassurance for your family. Temporary and fixed-term placements follow a separate fee and guarantee structure.
Always consult our current terms and schedule of fees before making an offer, as minimum fees and other conditions may apply.
Our Replacement Guarantee
And if, for some reason, the match isn’t quite on point, don’t worry- we’ll prioritise finding you a new match at no additional placement fee, provided the applicable guarantee conditions have been met.
Our standard permanent placement option includes a three-month replacement guarantee, while our premium permanent placement option includes an extended six-month replacement guarantee. Full details are available in our current terms and conditions.
Why Use an Au Pair Agency Instead of Hiring Privately?
Hiring privately may initially appear straightforward, but families often underestimate how much work is involved in advertising, filtering applications, interviewing candidates, checking references and comparing salary expectations.
A professional agency helps you:
- Define a realistic position and salary
- Avoid spending hours reviewing unsuitable applications
- Meet candidates who have already been interviewed and assessed
- Verify childcare and employment references
- Arrange the appropriate final and optional checks
- Navigate employment documentation
- Receive guidance and support after placement
- Access a replacement guarantee where applicable
Most importantly, you gain a knowledgeable partner who understands that qualifications alone do not create the perfect fit.
What a Sandton Family Says
I’m so impressed with the slick service and simple process offered by Au Pair Extraordinaire. I filled in the ‘Contact Us’ form on the Au Pair Extraordinaire website on a Sunday afternoon, and by Monday midday, Ashleigh had already called to understand our needs. By Wednesday, I had a selection of brilliant CVs to choose from, and by Saturday, we had interviewed and selected our perfect au pair.
The entire experience was seamless, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Au Pair Extraordinaire to other families.
Parent in Sandton – Google Review
After-school au pair placement, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you place au pairs throughout Sandton?
Yes. We assist families across Sandton and surrounding northern Johannesburg areas, including Bryanston, Morningside, Rivonia, Sandown, Hyde Park, Atholl, Benmore, Sunninghill and Fourways.
Can I hire a part-time or after-school au pair?
Yes. We place after-school, morning, full-day and other suitably structured positions. The hours and salary should be realistic enough to attract an experienced candidate.
Must an au pair have a driver’s licence and their own car?
It depends on the position. If school collections, activities or errands form part of the role, the candidate will generally need an appropriate licence and reliable transport. Driver’s-licence verification can be requested as an optional additional check.
How long does it take to find an au pair?
We usually send you CV’s within 24 hours of receiving your job spec. The timeline depends on your working hours, salary, location, duties and candidate requirements. Flexible, competitively paid positions generally attract a stronger candidate pool. Your recruiter will explain what is realistic after reviewing your requirements.
Is a criminal background check included?
A criminal background check is completed during the final placement phase. Families may request further optional checks for additional peace of mind.
Does the placement include a guarantee?
Qualifying placements include a replacement guarantee. The guarantee period depends on the length and type of placement, with eligible long-term placements receiving cover for up to six months. The applicable terms and conditions must be met.
Find Your Au Pair in Sandton
The right au pair should bring calm, consistency and genuine value to your family’s daily life. At Au Pair Extraordinaire, we take the time to understand your requirements and introduce candidates with the experience, personality and values to become an extraordinary fit.
Complete our free family application or contact our team and let us help you find your Au Pair Extraordinaire in Sandton.
