Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of increasing the scope of evidence that Ofsted is able to collect during its inspections of unregistered educational establishments.

Where Ofsted has reasonable cause to believe that the offence of operating an unregistered school is being committed on any premises, they have the power to enter and inspect the premises, and inspect and take copies of any records or other documents, which they believe may be required for the purposes of proceedings in relation to such an offence. Obstructing Ofsted in the exercise of these functions is a criminal offence. The department operates and funds a joint team with Ofsted on unregistered schools. We work together closely with Ofsted on all of these issues, including on the extent of their powers, which we keep continually under review.