NSW

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Homeschooling is legal in NSW. Children aged 6-17 years must be registered with NESA - NSW Education Standards Authority. Children can be registered from the year they could begin Kindergarten (the year they turn 5) until 18 years.

How To Prepare Your NSW Registration Document - The EASY Way

1. Submit your Application

You can fill in and submit your NESA application form online, or you can apply via email or post.

INITIAL REGISTRATION or REREGISTRATION 

2. Choose your required Key Learning Areas 

There are 6 basic subjects in NSW

  1. English K-12 
  2. Mathematics K-10
  3. Science & Technology K-10
  4. HSIE K-10 History/Geography (extra options available for yrs7-10)
  5. Creative and Practical Arts K-6 (Art, Music, Drama and Dance)
  6. PD, Health & PE

Primary (K-6)

You need all 6 and only these 6 (You can also add a language if you would like to).

Secondary (yr7-10)

English, Maths, Science & Technology, HSIE (History, Geography, Commerce, Aboriginal Studies or Work Studies)

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2 electives. You can choose your electives from any part of life and they do not need to be official subjects eg. Equestrian Studies (riding and training horses), TAFE Certificate, Food Technology, Art, Music, Dance, Photography, Media Arts, Languages etc.

Life Skills are also available for secondary students who are unable to meet the normal outcomes (see Simply Homeschool’s NSW Life Skills Outcomes for more information).

Senior Secondary (yr11-12)

12 Units and this must include English. You need a minimum of 4 subjects, and at least 3 board courses (subjects from their list). Other subjects can be electives from any part of life and they do not need to be official subjects: Eg. Equestrian Studies (riding and training horses), Work Skills (part-time job), TAFE Certificate, University Subjects (through Open University or other), Food Technology, Art, Music, Dance, Photography, Media Arts, etc.

Life Skills are also available for secondary students who are unable to meet the usual outcomes (see Simply Homeschool’s NSW Life Skills Outcomes for more information).

3. Print the Stage Statements/Objectives

The NESA Website has the link to the Stage Statements for K-6 under each stage: 

Early Stage 1 = Kindergarten 

Stage 1 = Yrs 1-2 

Stage 2 = Yrs 3-4

Stage 3 = Yrs 5-6

Stage 4 = Yrs 7-8 For Stage 4 click into each subject, scroll down and select "Stage Statements" (under Syllabus)

Stage 5 = Yrs 9-10 For Stage 4 click into each subject, scroll down and select "Stage Statements" (under Syllabus)

NOTE: Stage Statements are not available for Stage 6 / Years 11-12 or Life Skills Years 7-12. For these, you will need to use Aims and Objectives or Outcomes rather than Stage Statements.

To find Yr 11-12 Aims and Objectives and Outcomes:

  1. Go to the NESA Website
  2. Use the top menu to select Yr 11-12
  3. Select the Learning Are (eg. English)
  4. Scroll down and click the pink arrow next to "Go to Syllabus" for the specific course (eg. English Standard)
  5. Scroll down and select Aim and Objectives under the "Syllabus" heading

For more information regarding using these rather than Stage Statements go to Simply Homeschool’s NSW Life Skills Outcomes page.

4. Create Your Educational Program 

Your “Educational Program” can also be known as your curriculum or your learning plan. Brainstorm a list for how you will cover each subject using activities, books, resources, documentaries, excursions, classes, discussions etc. Watch our Navigating Simply Homeschool Videos Part 1 and Part 2. Our video on Creating a Daily Timetable and choosing your first 3 Core Programs.  

If you need help to create your curriculum, please visit  Simply Homeschool to add Core Programs to your Family Learning Plan. 

You can keep your dot points or use this list to write a short paragraph for each Key Learning Area to explain what you plan to do. Put each list/paragraph underneath the Stage Statement for the relevant Key Learning Area. See below for two examples:

EXAMPLE 1

Sally finds reading and writing challenging because she has dyslexia. We will continue to work on these by reading and writing every day. Sally is using Toe by Toe to develop her reading skills. I will encourage Sally to read widely from our own books, library books, newspapers, media and other literature as available. Sally will write for a variety of purposes for example, in her journal, shopping lists, letters, emails and stories. I plan to use ‘A Life Like Mine’, which is a Core program in Simply Homeschool to help Sally learn to use grammar effectively and also to write paragraphs. We will also use Creative Spelling in Simply Homeschool to help her learn to spell and to improve her handwriting. Sally has opportunities to communicate for many purposes with people in the community during our daily life and the activities and classes she participates in. She also attends weekly drama classes which are helping her to develop confidence in speaking clearly in group situations.

EXAMPLE 2

Tom is very interested in history - particularly WW1 and WW2 as his Great Grandfather and Grandfather fought in these wars. I plan to help him to continue to develop his learning in the following ways:

  • Read biographies and other information (The Hiding Place, All the Light We Cannot See, The Book Theif, Gallipoli Letters)
  • Research online
  • Visit the Holocaust Museum (Sydney)
  • Participation in Anzac Day Parade
  • Watch Documentaries and Video Series - The Anzacs
  • Visit The Australian War Memorial (Canberra)

5. Recording

Write two short statements to show how you will record your Learning Activities, Achievements and Progress. (Write these sections once - as they are relevant to all Key Learning Areas) See below for an example:

RECORDING - LEARNING ACTIVITIES 

I plan to keep some hard copies of Sally’s written work and date these samples. I will also take photographs of other learning activities. We will keep brochures and tickets from excursions. I will keep a list of books we read. 

RECORDING - ACHIEVEMENT & PROGRESS 

I will refer to the Stage Statements (or Objectives or Outcomes) at the end of each term to assess Tom’s achievement and progress. I will be able to use this process to evaluate his learning and to make goals for the following term (see below for an example).

NOTE - Although many Authorised Persons (APs) ask for a daily diary linked to Syllabus Outcomes, we are NOT required to do this. If they ask for this, reply with, "Could you please show me where in the Education Act this is required?"

6. Your Timetable

Your timetable can be very simple and handwritten. It does not need actual times. You can make a list for each day of what you might plan to do. 

7. Your Visit

About 1-3 weeks after you submit your application for Registration to NESA, the Authorised Person (AP) will contact you to organise your visit. Once you know this date, we suggest you ask a supporter (an experienced homeschooler if possible) to sit in on your visit. If you don’t know anyone to ask, email Home Education Association (contact@hea.edu.au) and they will try to find you a supporter.

Before your visit, read through your document so that you can 'talk' your plan with confidence. Set out any resources you have. Be ready to show the area for study to the AP. This can be the kitchen table and a lounge for reading. The AP will want to sight your child. They do not need to have a conversation.

8. Congratulations!

Take the rest of the day off - you deserve it! You’ve done a great job! 

It mostly takes a few weeks for your certificate to arrive.