Enrolled in and attending school

Clients with a dependent child aged 5 or 6 years (depending on when they start school) to 15 years old will be required to take all reasonable steps to ensure the child is enrolled in and regularly attending school.

If a child is aged between 5 and 6 years, it is the parent or caregivers choice as to whether they have their child in early childhood education or school. A child does not legally have to attend school until they are aged 6 years but most children start school at 5 years. A client must meet the early childhood education social obligation if they choose not to enrol their 5 year old in school.

A child can legally leave school when they are 16 years, or at 15 years if they have an early leaving exemption from the Ministry of Education.

A parent or caregiver cannot be asked to comply with the attendance at school social obligation, if the child has legally left school or has an early leaving exemption, and is no longer legally required to attend school.

All children aged from 6 to 15 years old are legally required to attend school. In most cases you should take your client's word that they are meeting their social obligations.

However, if you have information that indicates the child may not be attending school you may ask the client to get verification, for example, a letter from the child's school that says the child is enrolled and attending.

There are some situations where a client may be taking all reasonable steps, but their child is not attending school.

For more information see:

• Taking all reasonable steps for enrolling in and attending school
• Parent is being prosecuted under the Education Act

A client can home school their children and meet their social obligations.

If the child is aged 6 years or over they will need to have a 'Certificate of Exemption from Enrolment at a Registered School' from the Ministry of Education.

However, if they have work obligations, they are likely to need an exemption from those obligations.