If you’re exploring online education for your child, chances are one of the first things you’ve tried to look up are Ofsted ratings. For years, Ofsted inspection reports have been a trusted go-to for parents and carers trying to make sense of their school options. What many parents wouldn’t know is that online schools are inspected under a similar Ofsted framework to traditional schools.
More families than ever are engaging with online education in some form, whether that’s because mainstream school isn’t the right fit, because of health needs, an EHCP, the need for more flexibility, or simply because a different approach to learning makes sense for their child. For a long time, however, online education in England operated without any formal national oversight. Traditional schools are inspected and regulated as standard, but that framework didn’t extend to online providers.
The good news is that this has changed. Eligible providers can now apply for accreditation through the Department for Education’s Online Education Accreditation Scheme (OEAS).
What is the Online Education Accreditation Scheme (OEAS)?
The Online Education Accreditation Scheme (OEAS) was launched in April 2023 by the DfE in response to the significant growth of online education in recent years. As more families turned to online providers for full-time education, it became clear that a formal framework was needed to give parents and commissioners confidence in the quality and safety of what was being offered.
The scheme is designed for providers delivering full-time online education, so it reflects the realities of online learning rather than simply applying a traditional school framework. At the heart of the OEAS are two key priorities: quality of education and safeguarding.
When a provider meets the required standards, they are awarded accreditation, typically valid for three years, reflecting a sustained commitment to high-quality, safe online education rather than a one-off tick-box exercise.
One thing worth noting is that the scheme is voluntary. Online schools are not required to apply. A provider that chooses to go through the process is actively choosing to demonstrate that they meet the standards required of an online education provider, and that commitment to transparency is itself meaningful.
Providers that are awarded accreditation are listed on the government’s Get Information About Schools (GIAS) register, the same register that holds mainstream schools and colleges, giving families a reliable place to check a provider’s credentials.
How does Ofsted assess online schools?
So, if Ofsted is the quality assurance body for the scheme, what does that look like in practice?
1. Suitability checks
Before anything else, Ofsted carries out suitability checks on the individuals running the provider. This important safeguarding step helps ensure the people responsible for delivering education to children are qualified to do so and puts safety and welfare front and centre from the very start.
2. Accreditation visits
Next, Ofsted conducts accreditation visits, during which they assess providers against a set of specific online education standards. These standards are designed to reflect the unique nature of full-time online provision.
3. Formal report
Once an assessment has been completed, Ofsted publishes a report outlining which standards the provider has met. These reports are publicly available, providing parents, carers, and commissioners with transparent information on performance against each standard.
Ofsted’s role is only quality assurance, not accreditation. While Ofsted assesses providers, conducts suitability checks, and publishes the findings, the Department for Education makes the final decision on whether to award accreditation.
What happens during an accreditation visit?
Knowing what to expect from the accreditation process can be genuinely reassuring, so here’s a straightforward overview of how it works.
Before the visit itself, Ofsted conducts suitability checks to ensure everything is in order before inspectors assess the provision in more detail. The accreditation visits typically last two days, during which Ofsted inspectors perform a thorough assessment of the provider, evaluating whether it meets the DfE’s specific online education standards. This includes speaking with teachers, parents, and students directly, as well as joining lessons and assessing the teaching. Once the visit is complete, Ofsted publishes the report detailing the findings, just the same as a mainstream school.
It’s also worth knowing that accreditation isn’t simply awarded and forgotten. It can be withdrawn if a provider fails to maintain the required standards, and additional visits may be triggered if concerns are raised at any time.
What criteria are online schools assessed against?
Online schools that seek to demonstrate their quality are assessed against the OEAS as described above. The standard covers a range of key areas, including:
- Quality of teaching – lessons must be led by qualified teachers who actively support pupil progress.
- Live, real-time interaction – pupils must be able to communicate with their teachers directly, ensuring learning is active and responsive rather than passive.
- Regular feedback and guidance – children should receive ongoing support, be able to ask questions, and feel appropriately supervised throughout their education.
- Curriculum and assessment – provision must be broad, structured, and regularly reviewed to meet pupils’ individual needs.
- Safeguarding and wellbeing – robust measures must be in place to protect and support pupils learning outside a traditional school environment.
- Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development – whether the provider actively supports pupils’ wider development, including through the promotion of fundamental British values.
- Provision of information – whether the school communicates clearly and transparently with parents, pupils, and other relevant parties.
- Handling of complaints – whether straightforward, accessible processes exist for raising and resolving concerns.
- Quality of leadership and management – whether leaders have the vision, capacity and systems in place to deliver high-quality, safe online education consistently over time.
What did Ofsted find at TLC LIVE?
TLC LIVE Online School was awarded full DfE accreditation, meeting all applicable standards across all eight sections. Here is a summary of what Ofsted found:
- TLC LIVE offers a broad, carefully designed curriculum aligned to the English national curriculum.
- Pupils can study a wide range of subjects and work towards GCSEs, IGCSEs, Functional Skills, and AQA awards, supported by qualified teachers.
- Leaders hold high expectations of staff and have built strong communication channels between teachers, pupils, and families.
- Lessons are recorded, enabling leaders to carry out thorough quality assurance and track curriculum sequencing across lessons.
- Safeguarding arrangements are robust, with a comprehensive, up-to-date policy implemented consistently, and staff receive frequent training.
- Parents and pupils were overwhelmingly positive about their experience at TLC LIVE.
TLC LIVE passed in all these areas. This means that when you choose TLC LIVE, you are choosing a provider that has been independently assessed and found to meet the highest standards in online education.
Here’s what Ofsted’s report said about our provision:
“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.”
“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.”
You can read the full Ofsted report and explore our accreditation in more detail on our accreditation page here.
When you choose TLC LIVE, you are choosing a provider that has been independently assessed and found to meet the highest standards in online education, giving you confidence that your child is receiving a genuinely high-quality, structured, and supportive education.
How parents can check an online school’s credentials
When choosing an online school for your child, knowing what to look for can make all the difference. Here’s a practical checklist to help you make a confident, informed decision:
- Check whether the provider is accredited: Find out if the provider holds accreditation under the OEAS. This is your first indicator that the provider has been formally assessed against recognised standards.
- Read published Ofsted reports: Take the time to read the findings and see exactly which standards have been met.
- Ask about safeguarding procedures: Don’t be afraid to ask the provider directly how they keep pupils safe online. A quality provider will be open, transparent, and confident in explaining their safeguarding arrangements.
- Understand the teaching model: Find out how lessons are delivered. This is key to understanding the quality of education on offer. At TLC LIVE, all lessons are delivered live by qualified teachers in real time, so pupils are always actively supported rather than learning in isolation.
- Explore how progress is monitored: Ask how the provider tracks and reports on your child’s progress. Regular feedback and clear reporting are hallmarks of a well-structured online school.
- Review SEND support and wellbeing provision: If your child has additional needs, find out what support is available. Also consider how the provider looks after the emotional and social wellbeing of its pupils.
Taking the time to work through these points will give you a clearer picture of whether a provider is the right fit for your child.
Choosing a trusted online school
Ultimately, the right online school should bring together educational quality, genuine pupil support, meaningful engagement, and full transparency because a child deserves nothing less.
Interested in finding out more about TLC LIVE? Get in touch with our team today and see how we can support your online education journey.
Written by Ryan Lockett, Headteacher at TLC LIVE Online School