Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of unregistered schools continuing to operate whilst restrictions in place to address the COVID-19 pandemic are ongoing; and what plans they have to prevent the operation of such schools in future.
The department has not made any estimate of the number of unregistered schools operating through the current lockdown.
Any education setting which provides full-time provision to 5 or more pupils of compulsory school age (or one or more pupils of compulsory school age who is looked after or has an education, health and care plan) is required to register with the department as a school. It is a criminal offence to conduct an independent school that is not registered.
The department and Ofsted are continuing to investigate any settings where intelligence or evidence suggest the operation of an unregistered school.
All settings, whether registered or unregistered, must also comply with relevant regulations relating to the COVID-19 outbreak. Failure to do so will be a breach of legislation and poses a risk to public health.