The Department for Education has said it is “looking into” concerns about an Islamic charity that runs two independent schools and receives state funding to provide nursery places.

The Islamic Shakhsiyah Foundation was described as a “front organisation” for Hizb ut-Tahrir, a radical Islamist group, by David Cameron during Prime Minister’s Questions in 2009.

The Charity Commission investigated the Foundation in 2010 and found no connection between the schools and Hizb ut Tahrir. 

But the Department for Education said today that it is "looking into" longstanding concerns about the schools. 

The British Humanist Association said the charity is being given grants, reported to be worth £70,000 a year, to fund places for children at nurseries it runs in London and Berkshire.

The campaign group said it was “alarmed” to have found a number of creationist, ultra-orthodox Haredi Jewish, Steiner and Muslim nurseries that receive state funding through a scheme to provide two, three and four-years-olds with free education.

Pavan Dhaliwal, head of public affairs at the Association, said: “Two of the schools involved have been repeatedly dogged by accusations of extremism and five years ago Michael Gove and David Cameron made a big stand about how they should not be getting funding. Yet nothing has changed.”

A spokesman for the Department for Education said: “We are aware of the longstanding concerns about these schools and are currently looking into them.”

Although independent of government, independent schools must promote mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs, he said.  

“All independent schools in receipt of early-years funding must follow clear standards to ensure children are taught the key skills they need to get a good start in life.

"They are also inspected by Ofsted or an Ofsted-assessed inspectorate - if any failings are found the Secretary of State has power to take regulatory action to enforce the standards,” the spokesman said.   

The charity declined to comment.