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<p>Settings that only have pupils attending for less than 18 hours per week are not
considered full time and are therefore not required to register as schools. As they
are not registered as schools, such settings are not subject to inspection. In March
2018, the department published guidance setting out how the government, Ofsted and
local authorities can work collaboratively to help ensure children attending unregistered
schools and out-of-school settings are safe and are receiving a suitable education.
This guidance is attached and can be found at the following link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-school-registration"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-school-registration</a>.</p><p>Part-time
settings should be considered to be out-of-school settings, which the department currently
defines as “any institution providing tuition, training, instruction or activities
to children in England, without their parents’ or carers supervision, that is not
a school, college, 16-19 academy or provider caring for children under 8 years old,
which is registered with Ofsted or a childcare agency.” This covers a large, broad
and diverse sector, ranging from: settings offering part-time or supplementary education
to support mainstream or home education and religious settings offering education
in their own faith, to extra-curricular clubs and activities, such as dance classes,
sports tuition, as well as uniformed youth organisations.</p><p>In 2015, the government
consulted on proposals to introduce a new system regulation of the sector. However,
in 2018 following careful consideration of the large number of wide ranging views
and representations received, the government decided not to pursue the model proposed,
but to instead further develop the evidence base for a national approach, including
future legislation where gaps in existing powers might be identified. In connection
with this, the government is currently taking forward a package of measures aimed
at enhancing the safeguarding of children in this sector, including the provision
of £3 million of targeted funding, in 16 local authorities, to test different approaches
to multi-agency working. This work will be used to inform best practice on how existing
legal powers, held by local authorities and other agencies, such as the Police, Ofsted
and the Charity Commission can best be used to intervene in settings of concern and
to help inform the need for any further legislation.</p><p>Some part-time settings
provide alternative provision which is commissioned by a school or local authority.
Ofsted can look at such a part-time setting as part of an inspection of the commissioner.
In all cases (whether commissioning a place for a child in care or any other child),
the local authority or school acting as the alternative provision commissioner should
assure themselves that the setting is registered where applicable and that the provision
is delivered by high quality staff with suitable training, experience and safeguarding
checks.</p>
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