Being self-employed, can I claim nursery costs as a business expense?

[Hourglass]

A colleague of my husband reckoned you could claim nursery costs as a business expense.
This seems nonsensical to me and, after a quick check on Google, I think he is completely wrong.
Has anyone else ever heard of this?

I am certain he is wrong, but you could use the employers' voucher scheme if you were a ltd co couldn't you? As well as tax credits

Nursery costs would class as private ed wouldn't they since nursery's not compulsory? (watching with interest as I'm in the same boat)

I'm not a ltd company, zippi, so not sure what employers' voucher scheme is. I'm just self-employed. I do already notify tax credits of the amount of nursery fees I pay, but to offset the cost against my income tax bill is separate of course.

Fio & Iris - If you can claim private education, then maybe there's something in it. I'll keep looking and post with any updates!

you can't claim nursery fees as a business expense

I've never heard of claiming private education..surely not sounds very unlikely!

As I understand it the employers' voucher scheme is 55.00 (or thereabouts)per week which is paid in lieu of taxable pay and is tax free..as to whether you could register as a limited company and then have a scheme I don't know.

Have been searching on the net and it looks extremely unlikely that the costs could be claimed.
An accountancy site (www.pkf.co.uk) states categorically:
"... if you are self-employed, childcare costs are not deductible as a business expense."

www.pkf.co.uk/web/pkf800.nsf/webPagesPrint/ID5DB24503BC1C888F80256F400035A651!OpenDocument&Click=

What you could do is claim Child Tax Credit if you leave your child w/a registered child minder and at least get some relief on costs.

Thanks expat, yes I already do that.
I was just asking the question about childcare costs as a business expense because my husband's colleague was so adamant.
It looks to me like he's completely mistaken.

Sadly, don't think you can. If you could, my accountant would have been onto it!

I looked into this Hourglass and I checked with my accountant - the answer was definitely no for the self-employed.

Never mind, it was worth looking into. Thanks for all your input.