Home Schooling Consultative Group meeting – 8 November 2023

The chair gave an acknowledgement of country and welcomed those in attendance, particularly new members.

Action arising: Nil

All members and attendees were given the opportunity to introduce themselves to the group.

Action arising: Ni

Members were advised that agenda item 5 regarding an overview of NESA’s Curriculum Reform parent roundtable would not take place as the presenter was an apology.

Action arising: Nil

The chair advised members of the requirement for them to disclose any direct or indirect pecuniary interest in a matter that is being considered or about to be considered at a meeting.

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

Action arising: Nil

Item did not take place as the presenter was an apology.

Action arising: Members were advised that it was anticipated that an overview of NESA’s Parent Roundtable and its purpose would be provided at the next HSCG meeting.

Members were provided with updates on:

• resources that have been developed and published to date to assist home schooling families with the NSW Curriculum Reform.
• changes that have been made to the NESA home schooling website in relation to the NSW Curriculum Reform.

Members were also provided with:

• an overview of resources that are currently in development
• an opportunity to provide feedback on the draft support materials.

Members provided positive feedback regarding the draft support material, acknowledging the benefits that the developed material may provide home schooling families.

HSCG members also provided constructive feedback regarding:

• providing greater clarity to parents regarding the purpose of the support material
• potential gaps that could be met in the resources developed
• consideration of some alternative ways to communicate this information to home schooling parents.

Action arising: NESA to review the feedback provided and consider it in the refinement and development of future support material.

Members were presented with a summary of the current hybrid model of assessing applications that came into effect on 8 April 2023 and of the communication strategy implemented by NESA when transitioning to the model after home visits were temporarily paused during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Members were provided with an opportunity to provide feedback on the recommencement of home visits.

HSCG members provided anecdotal feedback regarding:

• their own positive, personal experiences of home visits by Authorised Persons
• initial anxiety prior to a first home visit by some home schooling applicants in their local community. Members reported that subsequent to the home visit most applicants reported a positive experience with the Authorised Persons and the home visit generally.

Action arising: Nil

Members were advised that the number of children registered for, or exempt from, home schooling has remained steady, although there was a slight decline in comparison to the same period 12-months ago.

While overall numbers of registered children declined in the first half of 2023, the second half of 2023 saw them increase again.

Members were also advised that data around applications withdrawn or refused is steady, relative to the data provided to members at the previous HSCG meeting.

Action arising: Nil

Members were advised of the following HSCG meeting dates for 2024:

• 20 March 2024 (in-person)
• 12 June 2024 (online)
• 11 September 2024 (in-person)
• 4 December 2024 (online).

Action arising: Members were asked to advise, as soon as possible, if the dates were unsuitable for them.

Nil

Action arising: Nil