Last updated: 17 September 2026
Find an Au Pair in Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs
Finding the right au pair involves more than comparing CVs. The person you appoint needs the relevant experience, but they must also be able to manage your family’s schedule, travel requirements and daily routine reliably.
Au Pair Extraordinaire has been helping South African families find carefully selected au pairs since 2007. We assist families throughout Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs with after-school, full-day, educational and specialised childcare placements.
Our matching process considers experience, availability, location, transport, personality and the practical requirements of the position. The aim is not to send families as many candidates as possible, but to introduce candidates who have a realistic chance of becoming the right match.
For citywide coverage, visit our au pair agency in Cape Town page.
Southern Suburbs Areas We Serve
We assist families across the Southern Suburbs, including:
- Constantia
- Bishopscourt
- Claremont and Upper Claremont
- Rondebosch
- Newlands
- Kenilworth
- Wynberg
- Tokai
- Bergvliet
- Surrounding Southern Suburbs areas where the position and daily travel requirements are practical
If your suburb is not listed, you can still contact our team. Candidate availability depends on the position’s location, hours, responsibilities, salary and transport requirements.
The School-Run Reality in the Southern Suburbs
Many Southern Suburbs au pair positions involve more than one destination. An afternoon may include collecting children from school, travelling home, supervising homework and driving to sport, tutoring or other extra-mural activities.
A candidate may have excellent childcare experience but still be unsuitable if the commute, starting time or daily driving schedule is unrealistic.
All candidates applying through Au Pair Extraordinaire must have a valid driver’s licence and their own reliable car. When matching candidates with Southern Suburbs families, we also consider:
- The distance between the candidate’s home and the family
- The required starting and finishing times
- The family’s regular school and activity routes
- The amount of driving required while on duty
- Traffic at the times the candidate will be travelling
- Whether the schedule can be maintained consistently
- The applicable mileage and transport arrangements
Considering these practical details from the beginning helps create placements that are sustainable for both the family and the au pair.
What Kind of Au Pair Does Your Family Need?
Before beginning the search, it helps to define the position clearly. “We need help with the children” can mean very different things to different families.
Common Southern Suburbs positions include:
After-School and School-Run Support
An after-school au pair may collect the children, prepare snacks, supervise homework, transport them to activities and help them prepare for the following school day.
Full-Day Childcare
Families with babies, toddlers or younger children may need a full-day candidate with age-appropriate childcare experience and the ability to manage meals, naps, play and developmental activities.
Educational and Homework Support
Some families need an au pair who can provide structured homework supervision, assist with projects or support particular subjects. Subject-specific tutoring requirements should be disclosed before matching begins.
Homeschool or Learning Support
Where a family requires homeschool facilitation or more intensive educational assistance, the candidate’s qualifications and experience must suit the learning programme and the child’s needs.
Specialised Childcare
Families seeking support for a child with specialised needs should explain the required experience, responsibilities and professional involvement clearly. We will only consider candidates whose backgrounds are appropriate for the role.
What Can an Au Pair Help With?
Depending on the agreed position, an au pair’s responsibilities may include:
- School collections and transport
- Homework supervision
- Test and project preparation
- Preparing appropriate meals or snacks for the children
- Planning age-appropriate activities
- Managing school bags, uniforms and children’s belongings
- Supporting established routines
- Communicating with parents about the children’s day
- Caring for babies or younger children where suitably experienced
- Providing tutoring or educational support where qualified
- Keeping children’s bedrooms and activity areas organised
The duties should remain child-related and should be agreed upon before interviews begin. Clear expectations protect both the family and the candidate.
Build a Position That Can Attract the Right Candidate
A well-designed position is easier to fill than one with unclear hours, unrealistic travel requirements or responsibilities that change continually.
Before applying, families should be ready to explain:
- The exact working days and hours
- Whether the position is morning, afternoon, full-day or split-shift
- The number and ages of the children
- The schools and activities included in the regular route
- The approximate amount of driving required
- The homework, tutoring or educational expectations
- Any baby-care or specialised experience required
- The proposed salary and transport arrangements
- The qualities that would suit the family’s personality and values
This information enables the recruiter to identify candidates who understand the full position and can commit to it realistically.
How Our Southern Suburbs Placement Process Works
1. Complete the Family Application
Provide information about your children, location, schedule, responsibilities and the type of person you believe would suit your family.
2. Discuss the Position With a Recruiter
Your recruiter will clarify the duties, hours, salary, travel requirements and qualities that are most important to you.
3. Receive a Focused Candidate Selection
We consider experience, availability, location, transport, salary expectations and family fit before introducing candidates.
4. Interview Your Preferred Candidates
Meet the candidates you would like to consider and discuss the role, expectations and practical arrangements in detail.
5. Select Your Au Pair
Once you have chosen your preferred candidate, we assist with the final placement process and relevant employment documentation.
How We Screen Our Au Pair Candidates
Only about 5% of applicants are accepted for representation 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, judgement, maturity and suitability
- A criminal background check during the final placement phase
Families may also request optional additional checks, including premium social media screening, a TransUnion credit check, driver’s licence verification and identity verification.
Screening provides essential information, but matching also requires consideration of communication style, values, temperament and the candidate’s ability to connect with the family.
What Should You Pay an Au Pair in the Southern Suburbs?
Salaries vary according to the working hours, responsibilities, number and ages of the children, qualifications, driving requirements and experience needed.
A position involving extensive driving, infant care, tutoring, longer hours or specialised support may require a different salary from a straightforward after-school position.
Our current au pair salary guide explains the factors families should consider. Your recruiter can also help you establish a realistic salary range for your particular requirements.
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. Temporary and fixed-term placements are handled according to the applicable terms and schedule of fees.
Our Replacement Guarantee
We take considerable care with every match, but working relationships and family circumstances can sometimes change.
If, for some reason, the match isn’t quite on point, we will prioritise helping you find a new match at no additional placement fee, provided the applicable guarantee conditions have been met.
The standard permanent placement option includes a three-month replacement guarantee. The premium permanent placement option includes an extended six-month replacement guarantee. Full details are available in our current terms and conditions.
Why Use an Agency Instead of Hiring Privately?
Hiring privately means the family must manage advertising, applications, interviews, reference checks, screening, employment documentation and any replacement search that may become necessary.
Working with an established agency provides a structured process, carefully selected candidates and support after placement.
Our service is not simply a database of CVs. We help define the position, assess practical compatibility, screen applicants and guide the family through the hiring process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Southern Suburbs areas do you service?
We assist families in Constantia, Bishopscourt, Claremont, Rondebosch, Newlands, Kenilworth, Wynberg, Tokai, Bergvliet and surrounding areas.
Do all candidates have a driver’s licence and their own car?
Yes. All candidates applying through Au Pair Extraordinaire must have a valid driver’s licence and their own reliable car.
Can I hire an after-school au pair?
Yes. Many Southern Suburbs families require after-school assistance with collections, homework and activities. The hours, duties and salary should be structured realistically.
Can an au pair assist with homework and tutoring?
Yes, where the candidate has the appropriate academic ability and experience. Families requiring subject-specific tutoring should state this clearly.
Is a criminal background check included?
Yes. A criminal background check is completed during the final placement phase. Optional additional checks may also be requested.
Does the placement include a guarantee?
Yes. The standard permanent placement option includes a three-month replacement guarantee, while the premium option includes a six-month replacement guarantee. All guarantees are subject to the applicable terms and conditions.
How long does the matching process take?
Timing depends on the location, schedule, duties, salary and current candidate availability. Clear and realistic requirements give us the best opportunity to identify appropriate candidates efficiently.
Find Your Au Pair in Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs
If you need a carefully selected au pair in the Southern Suburbs, complete our family application or contact our team.
Tell us about your children, daily routine and requirements, and we will help you begin the matching process.
