Many working couples with children need help with the care of their children. Our children are our most precious and valuable human beings, and entrusting their care to another person can be extremely challenging. Often, one of the parents gives up a career or stops working to take care of the children, because they simply are not confident enough that another person would be able to care for their child or children the way that they would.
There are, however, other alternatives. If you live in Pretoria, or anywhere else in the world for that matter, choosing the right au pair can indomitably change your life. The modern au pair is someone who is highly accomplished and educated, and the right person will be able to provide an effective caretaking service, drive the children to school and other activities, and ensure that they are adequately nourished in body and mind.
Originally published: 20 March 2019 · Last updated: 17 September 2026
Looking for the Right Au Pair in Pretoria East?
Choosing someone to care for your children and become part of your family’s daily routine is an important decision. You need more than someone who is simply available- you need an au pair whose experience, personality, values and schedule genuinely fit your family.
Au Pair Extraordinaire has been helping South African families find carefully selected au pairs since 2007. We assist families throughout Pretoria East, including Waterkloof, Waterkloof Ridge, Brooklyn, Menlo Park, Lynnwood, Silver Lakes, Mooikloof, Olympus and surrounding areas.
Whether you need an after-school au pair, full-day childcare support, help with school transport or a candidate with educational or specialised experience, our team will help you find the right match.
Why Pretoria East Families Hire Au Pairs
Family life can become demanding when work, school collections, homework, appointments, sport and extra-mural activities all need to fit into the same afternoon.
An au pair provides consistent, familiar support within your family’s established routine. Unlike occasional childcare, an au pair can build a lasting relationship with your children and develop a proper understanding of their personalities, interests and individual needs.
The right au pair can help parents regain breathing room while ensuring that their children remain safe, organised, supported and engaged.
What Can an Au Pair Help With?
An au pair’s responsibilities will depend on the family’s needs, the children’s ages and the agreed working hours. Duties may include:
- School collections and transport to activities
- Preparing appropriate meals or snacks for the children
- Supervising homework and school projects
- Helping children prepare for tests
- Organising age-appropriate activities
- Managing children’s schedules and school communications
- Caring for babies or younger children where the candidate has suitable experience
- Providing educational or specialised support where required
- Keeping children’s rooms, bags and belongings organised
- Communicating regularly with parents about the children’s routines and progress
The role should always be clearly defined before interviews begin. This helps us identify candidates whose experience, availability and expectations suit the position.
Local Matching Matters in Pretoria East
Pretoria East covers a wide area, and many au pair positions involve travelling between the family’s home, schools and extra-mural activities. Reliability, travel distance and transport requirements can therefore be just as important as childcare experience.
When matching candidates, we consider the practical details of the position as well as personality and family fit. These details may include the candidate’s location, working hours, transport, driving experience and ability to manage the family’s regular routes.
A candidate may look excellent on paper but still be unsuitable if the daily travel or schedule is unrealistic. Our goal is to create a match that can work successfully in everyday life- not only during the interview.
How Our Pretoria East Placement Process Works
1. Tell Us What Your Family Needs
Complete our free family application with details about your children, working hours, duties, location and the type of support you require.
2. Speak to an Experienced Recruiter
A recruiter will contact you to discuss the position and understand the qualities that matter most to your family.
3. Review Carefully Selected Candidates
We identify candidates whose experience, availability, salary expectations, location and personality align with your requirements.
4. Interview Your Preferred Candidates
You can interview the candidates you would like to meet and decide who feels most suitable for your family.
5. Make Your Selection
Once you have selected your preferred au pair, we assist with the placement arrangements and relevant employment documentation.
How We Screen Our Au Pair Candidates
We are highly 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
- An 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 identity verification.
Screening is only one part of a successful placement. We also consider temperament, communication style, values, energy and the candidate’s ability to build a healthy relationship with your children.
What Should You Pay an Au Pair in Pretoria East?
Au pair salaries vary according to the working hours, number and ages of the children, duties, driving requirements, qualifications and level of experience required.
A position involving extensive driving, tutoring, infant care or specialised support may require a higher salary than a straightforward after-school position.
Our current au pair salary guide explains the factors families should consider. Your recruiter can also recommend a realistic salary 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 level of support that best suits your family. Temporary and fixed-term placements are handled according to the applicable terms and schedule of fees.
Our Replacement Guarantee
We put considerable care into every match, but relationships and family circumstances can sometimes change.
If, for some reason, the match isn’t quite on point, don’t worry—we will prioritise helping you find 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 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 less expensive, but it places the full responsibility for advertising, interviewing, reference checks, screening, employment documentation and replacement arrangements on the family.
A reputable agency provides a structured process, carefully selected candidates and support if difficulties arise after the placement.
Our role is not simply to send CVs. We help families define the position, identify suitable candidates, assess practical compatibility and navigate the placement process with greater confidence.
What We Verify Before Introducing a Candidate
A successful placement depends on more than finding someone with childcare experience. Before introducing a candidate to a Pretoria East family, we consider whether the position can work reliably in everyday life.
Our matching process considers:
- Whether the candidate’s availability matches the family’s required hours
- The travel distance between the candidate, the family’s home, schools and regular activities
- Whether the candidate has appropriate driving experience, a valid licence and access to suitable transport when required
- Relevant experience with children of similar ages
- The candidate’s ability to manage the expected homework, tutoring or childcare duties
- Verified childcare and employment references
- Salary expectations and whether they align with the responsibilities of the position
- Communication style, maturity, values and overall family fit
- Any specialised experience required by the family
We do not send every available applicant to every family. We create a focused shortlist based on the practical requirements of the position and the qualities that matter to the family. This helps families spend their time interviewing candidates who have a realistic chance of becoming the right long-term match.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which areas of Pretoria East do you service?
We assist families throughout Pretoria East, including Waterkloof, Waterkloof Ridge, Brooklyn, Menlo Park, Lynnwood, Silver Lakes, Mooikloof, Olympus and surrounding areas.
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, responsibilities and salary must be realistic enough to attract an appropriate candidate.
Must an au pair have a driver’s licence and their own car?
Not every role requires driving. However, many Pretoria East positions involve school collections and transport to activities. If driving is required, this should be stated clearly in the family application.
How long does it take to find an au pair?
The timing depends on the family’s requirements, working hours, salary, location and current candidate availability. A clear, realistic position generally gives us the best opportunity to identify a suitable match efficiently.
Is a criminal background check included?
Yes. A criminal background check is completed during the final placement phase. Families may also request optional additional checks.
Does the placement include a guarantee?
Yes. The standard permanent placement option includes a three-month replacement guarantee, while the premium permanent placement option includes a six-month replacement guarantee. All guarantees remain subject to the applicable terms and conditions.
Find Your Au Pair in Pretoria East
If you are looking for a carefully selected au pair in Pretoria East, complete our family application or contact our team. Tell us what your family needs, and we will help you begin the matching process.
