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TLC LIVE is accredited by the Department for Education as a provider of online education

TLC LIVE is proud to be accredited by the UK’s Department for Education (DfE) through the Online Education Accreditation Scheme (OEAS) – a nationally recognised quality framework for online education providers in the United Kingdom.

What is the DfE Accreditation?

When choosing an online school for your child, it can be difficult to know which providers genuinely deliver on their promises. The UK government recognised this challenge and introduced the Online Education Accreditation Scheme (OEAS) in 2023 as a quality assurance framework designed to give families the confidence and clarity they deserve.

The OEAS is operated by the Department for Education (DfE), with accreditation visits carried out by Ofsted on the DfE’s behalf. The scheme sets out the minimum standards that an online education provider must meet in order to be recognised as a safe, high-quality provider of education. These are not self-assessed standards or marketing claims – they are independently verified requirements, assessed by inspectors experienced across a broad range of education providers.

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A child in the UK being homeschooled online.

To earn DfE accreditation, an online education provider must demonstrate that it meets robust criteria across several key areas, including:

  • The quality of teaching and learning – ensuring lessons are well-planned, engaging, and effective for students learning in an online environment
  • Student welfare and safeguarding – demonstrating that robust policies and procedures are in place to protect every child
  • Curriculum breadth and appropriateness – confirming that what is taught is suitable, well-structured, and aligned with the needs of the students
  • Leadership and governance – showing that the school is well-led, with clear accountability and a commitment to continuous improvement
  • Parental communication and engagement – ensuring that families are kept informed, involved, and supported throughout their child’s education
  • Support for pupils with SEND – ensuring that appropriate support and provision is in place for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities

Accreditation is not awarded lightly, and it is not permanent. Providers must consistently uphold these standards and remain open to ongoing scrutiny. For families, this means that a DfE accredited online provider is one that has been independently assessed and found to meet a nationally recognised benchmark for quality and safety – giving you real, meaningful reassurance about the education your child is receiving.

Our report

TLC LIVE opened its virtual doors in 2024 with one clear commitment: to provide an exceptional online education that families could trust.

From the very beginning, we built TLC LIVE around the principles at the heart of the OEAS. Every decision we made – from how we structured our curriculum, to how we trained and supported our teachers, to how we safeguarded our students – was guided by the conviction that our students deserved nothing less than the standards set out by the DfE for online education providers.

Following an accreditation visit carried out by Ofsted on behalf of the DfE, TLC LIVE was officially accredited by the Department for Education in 2026 – a formal recognition that we meet all the minimum standards for online education across all eight sections of the DfE’s framework.

We are immensely proud of this achievement, but we are equally proud of the journey that led to it. Accreditation is not a destination; it is a reflection of who we are and how we operate every single day. It validates the hard work of our teachers, the dedication of our leadership team, and the trust that so many families have placed in us.

You can read the full report below:

Read our full report

A closer look at our report

We believe in transparency. Our accreditation is not simply something we display on our website, it is something we want families to fully understand and explore. Below, you will find a summary of the key findings from our OEAS accreditation assessment, so you can see exactly what was reviewed, what our assessors found, and where we have been recognised for the quality of our provision:

“A comprehensive safeguarding policy that refers to the most up-to-date guidance issued by the Secretary of State is in place at TLC LIVE Online School. The policy is implemented consistently by knowledgeable and vigilant staff. Frequent and routine training in safeguarding ensures that staff keep their knowledge up to date.

“Pupils told inspectors that attendance at TLC LIVE Online School had been ‘life changing’, enabling them to ‘re-engage again in learning’.

“Parents have an overwhelmingly positive view of TLC LIVE Online School. This is illustrated by comments such as, ‘The compassion shown is exactly what is needed’ and ‘The online school has been an absolute life saver for my child and our family.’ All parents spoken with told the inspector that they feel well informed about their children’s education.”

OEAS Report, 2026

 

Girl sits in front of her laptop smiling at her school work.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Online Education Accreditation Scheme (OEAS)?

The OEAS is an accreditation scheme introduced by the UK’s Department for Education (DfE). It provides an independent quality assurance framework for online education providers, assessing them against a set of minimum standards specifically designed for online education. Accreditation visits are carried out by Ofsted on behalf of the DfE. Providers that meet these standards are awarded DfE accreditation as a recognised provider of online education.

Does TLC LIVE receive visits from Ofsted?

Yes. As part of the OEAS process, Ofsted visited TLC LIVE on behalf of the DfE to assess whether we met the minimum standards for online education. It is important to note that these visits are carried out by Ofsted under a specific remit for the DfE’s accreditation scheme and are distinct from Ofsted’s inspections of mainstream schools. Accreditation is awarded by the DfE, not by Ofsted. You can find TLC LIVE’s full report on the Ofsted reports website.

When did TLC LIVE receive its DfE accreditation?

TLC LIVE was officially accredited by the Department for Education in 2026, following an accreditation visit carried out by Ofsted on behalf of the DfE. Our accreditation is valid for three years. Our accreditation number is 000/1034, and you can verify our status at any time on the Get Information About Schools (GIAS) register. We have aligned our policies, practices, and provision with the DfE’s standards since the school opened in 2024.

Does DfE accreditation mean TLC LIVE meets a recognised standard for online education?

Yes. DfE accreditation confirms that TLC LIVE has been independently assessed and found to meet all the minimum standards set by the DfE for online education providers. The OEAS framework has been specifically designed for online education and covers key areas including curriculum quality, teaching, safeguarding, welfare, and leadership. Families can have confidence that TLC LIVE operates to a nationally recognised benchmark for quality, safety, and educational provision.

Why is it important to choose a DfE-accredited online education provider?

The online education sector is largely unregulated, and the quality of provision varies enormously between providers. Choosing a DfE-accredited provider gives families an independent guarantee that the provider has been assessed against nationally recognised standards. Without accreditation, there is no independent verification that an online education provider is safe, well-led, or providing a high-quality education.

How can I find out more about TLC LIVE’s accreditation?

You can read a summary of our accreditation report in the section above, as well as the full report. You can also verify our accredited status independently via the Get Information About Schools (GIAS) register using our accreditation number 000/1034. Alternatively, contact our team directly if you have any specific questions – we are always happy to discuss how we meet the DfE’s standards and what that means for your child’s education at TLC LIVE.

Choosing the right online education provider is one of the most important decisions you will make for your child. We believe that decision should always begin with trust.

TLC LIVE’s DfE accreditation is our promise to you – independently verified, nationally recognised, and hard-earned through years of commitment to doing things the right way. From our very first day, we have held ourselves to the standards set out by the DfE for online education, and our accreditation is the formal confirmation of that commitment.

If you would like to find out more about life at TLC LIVE, we would love to hear from you.

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