Home Schooling Consultative Group meeting – 4 May 2022

Members introduced themselves, sharing their professional and home schooling experience.

Action arising: Nil

2a. Publication of revised Guidelines

Members were advised that the revised Guidelines for Home Schooling Registration in NSW have been published on the NESA website. HSCG members, parents of registered children and key stakeholders were informed at the time the revised Guidelines were published.

Action arising: Nil

2b. HSCG membership

Members were advised that meetings between the CEO and outgoing members were conducted earlier in 2022.

Also, as a result of the Expressions of Interest process, five new members were selected for the HSCG.

The new members are:

• Jo Lloyd (Parent Representative)
• Nicole Mazur (Parent Representative)
• Rennison Reckless (Parent Representative)
• Selena Guest (NESA Nominee)
• Gersha Shteyman (NESA Nominee)

Action arising: Nil

2c. Home Schooling Online

Members were informed that the NSW Department of Education provided a response to NESA regarding how schools manage enrolments for children who are subject to court orders providing for equal shared parental responsibility.

NESA was advised that schools work with parents, recording access details in the Department’s enrolment system, and that schools follow the Department’s enrolment policy, Family Law Guidelines and enrolment legal bulletins to support families.

Action arising: Nil

2d. Member raised questions

(i) Authorised Persons briefings

The Chair advised that members are welcome to suggest agenda items for future Authorised Person briefing sessions, if they wish.

Action arising: Nil

(ii) Changes in the home schooling population and how NESA and the NSW Department of Education support new applicants

Members were informed that the NSW Department of Education provided a response to NESA regarding how they respond to parents wishing to home school their children.

NESA was advised that children must remain enrolled and attend school during the period of time that their application for home schooling registration is being assessed. If a child is not attending school during this time, schools follow regular non-attendance procedures. It is only once a child receives a certificate of home schooling registration from NESA, that they can be removed from the roll. This is generally achieved by the parent providing the school with the certificate of registration. Schools may also contact their local Learning and Wellbeing team or the attendance policy team to confirm home schooling registration.

Action arising: Nil

2e. General Business

(i) Role of the HSCG

Members were advised that NESA intends to provide increased opportunities for members to offer their experience and views on matters relating to home schooling.

Action arising: Nil

(ii) Meeting dates 2022 and self-assessment questionnaire

Members were advised that the responses received provided very positive feedback regarding involvement with the HSCG, notwithstanding some of the challenges posed by the pandemic and the inability to meet face-to-face.

Action arising: Nil

One member advised that they had a contractual relationship with a commercial provider of home schooling content.

Action arising: Nil

An overview of the HSCG’s purpose and terms of reference as well as the role of members was provided. There was discussion and agreement about the benefits of the continuity that the ongoing members of the HSCG provide to the group.

A member asked whether someone can attend an HSCG meeting on their behalf, if they are unable to attend.

Action arising: NESA to provide clarification as to whether an HSCG member can nominate someone else to attend a meeting on their behalf.

New English and Mathematics K-2 syllabuses were released in 2022. Members were provided with a summary of the key changes within the new syllabuses that will impact educational programs.

Members were invited to provide feedback on the proposed actions that NESA is considering to support home schooling parents in response to the key changes, and how these can be communicated.

Members provided suggestions for how the changes could be communicated, along with other support that may assist home schooling parents in developing educational programs in response to the changes.

Action arising: NESA will continue to seek feedback from HSCG members regarding its proposed actions to support home schooling parents in response to the NSW Curriculum Reform.

Members were advised that, at this stage, NESA intends to recommence home visits in 2023.

Members were invited to provide feedback on the temporary changes that are currently in place to assess applications, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Members agreed that face-to-face visits provide families with a sense of confidence during the assessment process, but that there could be merit in having some assessments conducted by documentation review and video technology.

Members suggested that the recommencement of home visits by Authorised Persons be communicated well ahead of time to home schooling parents.

Action arising: NESA will continue to seek feedback from HSCG members regarding the recommencement of home visits.

An update and demonstration of the new system was provided. Key features of Home Schooling Online were showcased including account activation, how to submit/withdraw an application, the platform’s security features as well as a suite of ‘How to’ guides to use the online system.

The online platform will be rolled out in a staged process and will be optional. The plan is for all parents of registered children to be notified of the online application option, and a link to the system to be provided at the time of renewal of registration. In time, a link will be available on the website for new applicants.

Members provided suggestions regarding some elements of the online platform that would provide applicants with greater clarity when completing applications.

Action arising: NESA to incorporate, where possible, the suggested edits to Home Schooling Online.

The Home Schooling Data reports relating to 2021 was recently published on the NESA website.

It was noted that the most recent data again reflects an increase in the number of children registered for home schooling.

Actions arising: Nil

Part-time school enrolment

A member asked about the option for children to be registered for home schooling and to be enrolled at school part time.

Members were informed that the NSW Education Act 1990 does not allow for a student to be enrolled in more than one provision.

Action arising: Nil