Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what statutory or guidance-based limits apply to the duration for which a school may use online education for a pupil unable to attend in person, and what evidence base she used to determine that short-term physical reintegration models are superior to prolonged online education for pupils with complex medical or neurodivergent needs.

Local authorities have duties under Section 19 of the Education Act 1996 to arrange suitable education for children of compulsory school age who, because of illness, exclusion or otherwise, would not otherwise receive suitable education.

The department does not currently routinely collect data on the number of pupils who are without educational provision while awaiting an alternative placement.

As part of the 'SEND reform: education otherwise than at school' consultation, which closed in September 2026, the department sought views on the role of accredited online education providers in delivering high-quality alternative provision. This consultation is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/send-reform-education-otherwise-than-at-school.