We did this on a couple of occasions where I used to work until someone in the authority pointed out…
FCL.210 Training course
Applicants for a BPL, SPL or PPL shall complete a training course at an ATO. The course shall include theoretical knowledge and flight instruction appropriate to the privileges given.
After that, they stopped issuing them. Pedantic perhaps.
Our HT then included a section in the Training Manual which basically said (I can’t recall the exact words) that a person completing all lessons up to point x in the ATPL(A) training shall be deemed to have completed the PPL(A) training course.
FOI happy but I don’t think we used it afterwards.