Home schooling a dependent child

This exemption may apply to a partner or sole parent with work obligations.

A client can, in very limited circumstances, be exempt from meeting some of their work obligations:

• if they are home schooling a dependent child or a foster child and
• they have restricted circumstances that make the child's attendance at school unreasonable

Before you grant an exemption you should:

• gather all the proof required
• get the approval of the manager client service delivery to the exemption

This is a partial exemption only.

The client must provide:

• proof of the restricted circumstances that makes their child's attendance at school unreasonable and
• if the child is aged 6 years or older, their 'Certificate of Exemption from Enrolment at a Registered School', issued by the Ministry of Education (if it's not a recently issued certificate, the client needs to contact the Ministry of Education to get another certificate)

For an 'Application for exemption from enrolment at a registered school', see the 'Home education application form' link at the bottom of the Home education page (the application form is the same for primary and secondary schooling).

All exemptions for home schooling must be approved by a service centre manager.

For more information see:

• Restricted circumstances guidelines

If the child being home schooled is aged 17 or 18 years:

• the restricted circumstances criteria still apply
• the client must complete a personal statement stating that they are home schooling the child and that the child is not attending a registered school

The Ministry of Education issues a 'Certificate of Exemption from Enrolment at a Registered School' only for the years of compulsory schooling.