Unaccredited Online Schools

A BBC investigation has revealed that Somerset Council spent over £400,000 on unaccredited online school placements for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) between April 2024 and January 2025—double the previous year's spending.

While some families view online schools as a “lifeline” for children unable to cope in mainstream education, concerns have been raised over the lack of accreditation and oversight.

The government encourages councils to use accredited online schools under a voluntary scheme launched in 2023, but only eight schools have joined so far. Critics argue the scheme’s criteria are too restrictive, limiting options for part-time providers. Parents, have reported issues with unaccredited schools, including unqualified teachers and inadequate support for neurodivergent children. Experts stress that while regulation is essential to ensure quality education, it should not be so strict that it limits access to alternative provisions.

With a rising number of children requiring alternative education, Somerset Council justifies using unaccredited providers when necessary to prevent students from missing out entirely. However, they insist on conducting quality checks before commissioning these services.