Home educating a child with learning support needs in New Zealand

To home educate, you need a certificate exempting your child from enrolment at a registered school, under section 38 of the Education and Training Act 2020. Usually the Ministry must be satisfied that your child will be taught at least as regularly and as well as in a registered school.

For a child who would otherwise be likely to need special education, the Act sets a different comparison: the child must be taught at least as regularly and as well as in a specialist school or special service. The Ministry's home education procedures manual applies this test to students with additional learning needs or who are neurodiverse.

In practice, that means your application needs to show how your child's needs will be met. The application form and guidance ask you to describe your approach, resources, goals for the next 12 months and how you will monitor progress.

Describe your child as they are now: their strengths and interests, what they find hard and the adjustments you'll make. Examples include shorter sessions, structured literacy teaching, visual timetables, sensory breaks, assistive technology such as text-to-speech, or a quiet learning space.

Set goals that are specific enough to show progress, even if the steps are small. If your child has reports or plans from a specialist, a Ministry learning support team or a previous school, use their recommendations to shape your goals and explain how you'll put them into practice. Say who else will help, such as a tutor or therapist.

Applications usually take 4 to 6 weeks. If your child is already enrolled, they stay enrolled and attending while you wait, so plan ahead.

Some Ministry learning support works differently for home-educated children. The Ministry says home-educated students who are eligible for the Ongoing Resourcing Scheme (ORS) don't receive school-based resources such as a specialist teacher or teacher aide, but can receive specialist support from their regional Ministry office. ORS is for students with the highest levels of ongoing need.

If you're worried about your child's learning, the Ministry's guidance for parents explains who to talk to and how to contact the regional learning support team. Ask them directly which services your child can access while home educated, and whether your exemption affects any support your child already receives.

Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu (Te Kura), the state distance school, is a different option from home education: a child enrolled full-time with Te Kura is enrolled at a school rather than exempt. Government-funded enrolment depends on meeting a gateway in the Ministry's enrolment policy.

Te Kura says students with learning support needs need a Ministry of Education referral stating that no local service can meet their needs. It also says home-educated students under 16 with an exemption may be able to enrol as fee-paying students for individual subjects, and asks families to send a copy of the exemption.

Criteria and fees change, so check Te Kura's enrolment pages or contact Te Kura before deciding.

If you have concerns about your child's development, learning, attention or communication, start with your GP or the Ministry's regional learning support team. Your GP can check for other causes, such as hearing or vision problems, and talk with you about referrals.

Private assessments for dyslexia and other specific learning differences are also available, for example through SPELD NZ, which charges fees but offers subsidies in some situations. Ask any assessor about costs, wait times and what the report will include before you book.

• SPELD NZ: assessments and one-to-one tuition for people with dyslexia and other specific learning differences. Fees apply, with subsidies for Community Services Card holders or in financial hardship.
• Autism New Zealand: outreach coordinators through branches around the country, courses for families and an education resource hub.
• ADHD New Zealand: information for families and whānau, including government supports that may be available and links to regional groups and parent courses.
• Parent to Parent: free, confidential support for families of disabled, neurodivergent and health-impaired children, including trained support parents and information on funding.

Local home education groups can also put you in touch with families who home educate children with similar needs.

Home educating a child with learning support needs can be rewarding and demanding. Build in rest, share the load where you can and stay connected with other parents. It's fine to change your approach, bring in outside help or revisit school if your child's needs change.