ISO agencies with spanish-speaking educares

[Anonymous]

We have never had an au pair, but are considering an "educare." These are au pairs who work 30 hours. Our child is in school, so we really just need somoeone to drive her to school and provide aftercare. Weekend date night would be a bonus! She is in a partial immersion program, so we really want a native Spanish speaker. Can anyone recommend an agency? (Au Pair in American says educares are mostly from Germany)

[Anonymous]

We hosted an Educare last year, and I strongly encourage you to consider the regular AP program. We found that the cost was the same once you were done factoring in extra classes and the transportation to and from those classes, plus since most of our AP's friends were regular APs but worked the same schedule she did, we found that she at times chafed - never towards us, but definitely towards the program - about the fact that she made $40 less per week because she was an educare rather than a regular AP. During summer vacation, we ran into a couple of weeks where we needed extra help (no school but camps not yet in session) where we had to hire additional care. PLus, when our daughter was sick for a week, we also ran into trouble with the 30 hour max.

Although we too use only about 25 hrs/week regularly, we switched back to the regular AP program this year and will stay within it. I know this isn't what you asked, but I'm a longtime HM and thought you might benefit from our mistake. Good luck (I think APIA is the only program that does educare so not sure if you will find a spanish speaking educare anyway).

[Anonymous]

There is a thread about the educare program on aupairmom and everyone agreed that the program doesn't make sense. There are very few candidates and they can only arrive twice in the year, so you'd be pretty screwed if you had to rematch. The costs also end up very similar because you're still paying the agency fee, extra toward classes ($500) and transportation to all those classes, plus the typical car, cell phone, food that you'd pay for a regular AP. We considered it and then realized its really not that much of a cost savings to justify all the other downsides. There are a lot of regular APs who only work 25 hours with the ability to have a few weeks a year at 45 when you need them. It makes a lot more sense. Plus obviously, tons more candidates.