Home education is a recognised and lawful education option available to Queensland parents and guardians when making decisions about the best form of education for their children.
When choosing to home educate, parents accept responsibility for planning, implementing, and evaluating their child's learning program. Parents who choose to home educate provide a suitable learning environment within the family home. They also provide the resources necessary to support their child's individually tailored program. A parent choosing this educational option is required to provide a high quality education for their child.
The term 'home schooling' gives the perception of a 'school at home' and learning only in the home. The more modern term 'home education' encompasses a broader concept of educational experiences based in and beyond the home. Essentially there may be no difference in the two terms and they are often interchanged in current conversations and readings. Indeed, home education programs are enriched by accessing a wide range of community resources such as local libraries, museums, sporting clubs, Scouts and other facilities which offer learning opportunities.
With home education, parents develop or adapt their own program for the child. The parent or a teacher engaged or employed by the parent, is the educator of the child. The educator plans, implements and evaluates the child's learning from one year to the next. The parent whose name appears on the application form is legally responsible for ensuring that their child receives a high quality education, irrespective of whoever else may assist with the child's education.
With distance education, a parent enrols their child in a school of distance education and a school program is provided by that school for the child. Teachers are available to help monitor the child's learning and a teacher from the school reports on the child (as in mainstream schools). The parent is the supervisor or home tutor to the child within their home. There are state schools and accredited non-state schools of distance education.
Yes. If you wish to home educate your child and they are of compulsory school age or they are in the compulsory participation phase, you must apply for, and they must be granted, a home education registration. Each state and territory has its own regulation.
Compulsory school age in Queensland means the child is at least 6.5 years of age and less than 16 years of age, or has completed Year 10, whichever happens first. All children in Queensland must be either enrolled in a state or non-state school, or be registered for home education during their compulsory school years. Year 1 is the first year of compulsory education.
It would be usual to register a child for home education from the beginning of the year in which they would usually start Year 1 at a school. A child can be registered for home education from the year they turn 6 years of age by the 30 June of that year. They need to be registered by the time they turn 6.5 years of age.
No. Prep aged children are not registered for home education as they are not of compulsory school age.
The compulsory participation phase starts when a young person stops being of compulsory school age and ends when the person gains a senior certificate, certificate III or certificate IV; or has participated in an eligible option for two years after compulsory school age; or turns 17 years. Queensland children who are in the compulsory participation phase must be enrolled at and attend a school or engaged full-time in an eligible option, or be registered for home education or working full time.
Yes. It is your right to educate your child at home provided you have applied for, and successfully registered, your child to be home educated.
A parent of a child has the right to choose to home educate a child instead of enrolling them at a school. With this right comes the responsibility of registering the child through the Home Education Unit, Department of Education and Training.
Yes. However this person must be a registered teacher.
This would be unusual. As the child's parent you are taking on the responsibility of educating them. Ultimately you are responsible for the child's home education program. If you were employing a registered teacher for some time, it may be possible to have this time to yourself.
No. There may be some group situations such as a weekly swimming lesson or a community art lesson that may be included in your child's program without you having to be the teacher. It is possible that a registered teacher setting up group learning for home educated children could be regarded as a 'school' and require accreditation for this situation.
Yes. The definition of 'parent' is broad and covers a variety of carers. If you are the permanent carer of your grandchild you can apply to register them and be responsible for their education. You would need to supply the Home Education Unit (HEU) with certified copies of any documents that confirm your carer status.
No. A child enrolled at either a state or non-state school of distance education cannot also be simultaneously registered for home education.
This may be possible. A child cannot hold simultaneous enrolment at a school and also be registered for home education. However, on occasions, an agreement may be formed between the school, parent, and child allowing the child to access some activities or facilities at school. Such an agreement is at the total discretion of the school's principal. The school may require that you pay a fee for any access. Any participation at a school can only be minimal. If you consider your child needs to attend a school for more than a few hours per week then you should discuss an enrolment or flexible enrolment with the school and hence leave the registration system.
Yes. Non-school forms of education such as TAFE may be accessed part-time without affecting registration. To access a TAFE component the child would need to be eligible under the institution's enrolment conditions. For more information, contact your local TAFE.
Yes. You can surrender the registration and enrol your child at a state school at any time. The school's enrolment procedures would apply. Non-state schools may not be able to accommodate the new enrolment part way through the year. If you choose to discontinue the home education registration, you must return the child's registration certificate to the Unit. This is a legal requirement.
Yes. However, chopping and changing between school and home education is neither recommended nor desirable. There is an expectation that a parent intends to comply with the conditions of registration when they apply. If there were difficulties with the first registration, then this may influence the granting of another registration.
Yes, but an exemption from compulsory schooling should firstly be explored. As with any application received at the HEU, it will be assumed that the parent intends to comply with the standard conditions of registration by supplying:
If you intend to register a child through HEU, it is recommended that you commence preparing information for the application at least four weeks before departure. (This includes making sure that you have a certified photocopy of your child's full birth certificate.)
The application form requires the applicant to supply the child's usual place of residence as a Queensland address; however, if travelling away from the state for a short period of time it may be appropriate to indicate the registration number or name of the family's caravan or boat. Please note: Postal communication with the applicant will be through the Queensland postal address supplied with the application. It is the responsibility of the applicant to arrange for its collection. While the application is being processed, it is essential that HEU and the applicant are able to have regular email or phone communication.
No. The Queensland Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 relates to the compulsory education of children in Queensland. It is not appropriate for a child living overseas or in another state or territory to be registered under this legislation. You may wish to enquire with the Brisbane School of Distance Education (BSDE) about their overseas program. A child living outside Queensland who is to be registered for home education should be registered with the appropriate authority for that state, territory or country.
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© The State of Queensland (Department of Education, Training and Employment) 2010.