cash in hand for holiday childcare?

[elliott]

Yet another thread on my current childcare dilemmas - hoping a slightly more provocative title might get a few more responses!

I'm thinking about employing an ex-nursery nurse for school holiday care - 25 hours a week for about 10 weeks over the year. Has anyone done this without becoming an employer, which seems an awful lot of hassle for 30 days work over a year.

I dont see a major problem with this unless the lady will be claiming benefits and accepting wages as cash! Also you will not be able to declare this money paid to her for tax credit purposes etc

anyone else? I can't believe I'm the only one to be hiring occasional holiday help, so what do you all do about paying for it - I want to 'do the right thing' but I also don't want to make unnecessary work for myself.