Homeschooling NZ – The Essential Parents’ Guide

New Zealand has a long history of homeschooling with many parents and caregivers choosing to apply for an exemption from enrolment at registered schools for a range of reasons. All parents and caregivers who wish to home school must complete an Exemption From Enrolment form. They must provide full details of a curriculum plan, including how the child will be taught, and what they will cover. 

Homeschooling is becoming increasingly popular in New Zealand, with over 8,300 students registered in 2021, and can be a great option for some families.  Read on to find out more about how to get started with homeschooling in New Zealand.

How to Start Homeschooling in NZ

The first step when looking into homeschooling in New Zealand is to apply for a Certificate of Exemption from the Ministry of Education. All children in New Zealand are legally required to enrol in and attend a registered school from the ages of 6 to 16. The application form is available on the Ministry of Education website and is a detailed form that covers all aspects of the proposed teaching and learning programme, including your philosophy of education, short and long term goals and how you will measure learning, progress, and achievement.

Homeschooling Requirements in New Zealand

The Ministry of Education assesses each application against clear legal criteria. They must be satisfied that the child will be taught as if they were enrolled in a registered school. The application requires the following:

• A description of your home education approach, philosophy and/or curriculum
• A description of the resources and reference materials you have available to teach your child
• An explanation of how you intend to use the resources and reference materials
• Short and long-term educational goals for your child
• A description of intended learning areas and/or subjects
• An example of a special project or topic plan covering learning goals, resources, teaching methods, progress and achievement measures
• A description of how you intend to measure and record progress and achievement in relation to the learning goals
• A demonstration of regularity – when, how often and for how long you will teach your child.

At first impression, this can seem daunting, but gaining an understanding of the support materials available, and a methodical approach to the application process can greatly assist with navigating the application for exemption process. 

Homeschooling NZ Support Groups

One of the common concerns from parents who are interested in homeschooling is around socialisation and ensuring that children have access to extra-curricular activities. There are a number of after school activities and a range of support groups available in every major city, and many regional centres. Scouts, Guides, ballet and music classes, swimming lessons, sports clubs, and other online groups ensure that homeschooled children have just as busy and enriched a schedule as their traditionally schooled counterparts.

New Zealand Homeschooling Assessment and Reporting Requirements

At times, homeschooling parents and caregivers may need to provide proof of a structured programme to either the Ministry of Education or the Education Review Office. Online platforms such as Education Perfect that keep a record of all the subjects covered alongside any assessments completed can help with demonstrating progression as a part of a holistic learning programme. 

See how to use EP to help plan your homeschool curriculum.