Home schooling

Clients with dependent children aged 5 or 6 years (depending on when they start school) to 16 years of age, will be required to take all reasonable steps to ensure the child is enrolled in and attending school.

Home schooling meets this obligation in some circumstances.

Clients can home school their children and meet their social obligation if they have a 'Certificate of Exemption from Enrolment at a Registered School' issued by the Ministry of Education.

However, if a client and their partner (if any) have work obligations, generally they won't be able to home school their child, as this could impact on their ability to actively seek or be available for work. They may qualify for an exemption from their work obligations to home school their children.

A child does not legally have to attend school until they are aged 6 years (but most children start school at 5 years). If a child is aged between 5 and 6 years, it is the parent's or caregiver's choice whether to have their child in early childhood education or school.

A 'Certificate of Exemption from Enrolment at a Registered School' issued by the Ministry of Education is not needed while the child is aged 5 years.

Once a child is aged 6 years a 'Certificate of Exemption from Enrolment at a Registered School' issued by the Ministry of Education is required by law to enable a parent to homeschool their child.

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

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.

When a client has work obligations as well as social obligations they must meet both sets of obligations at the same time.

If the client is unable to meet their work obligations because they are home schooling a dependent child, you can consider granting an exemption from their work obligations.

The client must meet the additional criteria for the home schooling exemption.